Scenes From Summer

There certain scenes that I just love: kids running full speed down to the water until their bodies fall into it, grandparents building sand castles with their grandkids, boats being backed into the water getting ready for a day of fun on the lake.  These are the scenes that make me say, "ahhhh, summer...".  I cherish them because like so many other things in life, summer is temporary (and too short).  Winter comes and all this easy breezy bliss will be just a memory.  Does that mean that when it is over that we must be sad.  No, not at all.  Our hapiness need not lie in the temporary pleasures of this temporary life.  Our true happiness is in walking with Christ, living obediently, and receiving the full reward for it.  Knowing that gives me a joy even in the midst of the thought that summer will end.  And also knowing that the Lord's love and grace will never end.

Christians and Gay Marriage

There is an awful lot of talk about gay marriage these days. Especially since the man that has been deemed our president decided go against his "Christian" faith and show support for it. As a Christian, I feel it is important to clarify that I do not see him as a true Christian. He chooses not to live by the Word of God, and so that makes his so-called faith null and void. If we, as Christians, suddenly excuse any sin that the Bible clearly outlines then we might as well say Christ died in vain.

Sadly, because of people like our president who have an outlet to publicly push their "brand" of Christianity, others eat it up like a Krispy Kreme donut. "We are to treat everyone as we would like to be treated. It's the Golden Rule." Yes, I agree that we should show love to others. However…love and accepting blatant sin as "good" do NOT go hand in hand. I have friends that are gay. I love them dearly, but I also want them to realize the seriousness of choosing sin. I care about their eternal life and I want them to live in freedom!

Then there's the argument, "Well, it's not like anyone would CHOOSE that lifestyle. They were born that way. They can't help it." Sorry, but that is a lie straight from the devil and if you believe that you are also deceived. Scripture is VERY clear, and you don't have to go any further than Genesis to find the answer. It started when the first man decided to sin. He doomed all of humanity in that one choice. That is when the world fell into a tailspin. That is why we now have disease, rape, murder, child abuse, lying, cheating, stealing, and every other sin. And in Romans we are reminded that "we ALL fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all have sin that we struggle with. It's also why we see innocent life, like children and unborn babies, brutally murdered…all because of the moment when Adam and Eve made that choice. My sin may be different than someone who practices a homosexual lifestyle, but that does not mean that I am anymore deserving of God's love than they are or that I will be guaranteed entrance into Heaven. What matter's most is the choice I make in accepting Christ's sacrifice for my sins and allowing the Holy Spirit to control me. Because we have the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome the urges to sin. It doesn't mean we are suddenly perfect or better than anyone else. It just means that we suddenly have an Advocate in Christ.

With all that said, as we approach another election season, I could not bring myself to ever vote for a person who deceives others into going against God's Word. Especially since I know very well what the Bible says about deception. It is Satan's greatest weapon. Stick to the Scripture and defeat him at his game.

And continue to love others, regardless!

It's Been Two Years...

I remember the day vividly…my brother called in the morning, but I missed his call. I knew what he was going to tell me. I decided I would call him back when I had a chance to be alone. When I finally did, I heard him say, "Mom died this morning." I don't know what pain was harder at the moment; the fact that my mom was gone or that my brother had the difficult job of telling me the news. Either way, it was a pain I will never forget. Although the hurt of losing a loved one is not the work of God Himself, the healing sure is. I suppose I cling to that pain a little by choice. It reminds me of how far I have come. It marks a major milestone in my life, my faith, and my need for the Savior.

Even though my mom has been gone for two years now, I can honestly say that God has blessed me like never before. It wasn't His choice to bless me more because of that painful event, but rather my choice to turn to Him and trust Him. As a result, I have seen His grace and mercy over my life in such a new and wonderful way.

How has God blessed me in the past two years? Well, take a look at the journal entry I wrote on the day my mom passed away:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You took my mother home today. I prayed that you wouldn't, I prayed that you would give me more time with her. I prayed that we would have another chance to start over. You knew how my heart ached to hug her and tell her I loved her. You knew how much I wanted to bless her with knowing her grandson. But you still took her and all I can hope for now is that you will come for all the rest of us. I pray, Lord, that you will take my whole family home. I spent the past 3 1/2 years praying for her, now what do I do with that? That was a prayer that feels very unanswered to me right now. I'm sorry, Lord, but I just don't know why you had to take her so soon. What do I know? Not much, I don't know much of anything about her life in Mexico. I want so much to believe it was a happy one for her, but if she was so happy, why couldn't she share that with me? Jesus, all I can pray for now is that you bless her soul in Heaven. I want to be with her there some day.

Wow! I really did not know God as well as I thought I did. I accused Him of my mother's death! He didn't kill her. Glory to God, He was her Savior! In the past two years I have learn how the enemy, Satan, comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10), but we who believe in Christ will overcome the world, just as Christ did Himself (John 16:33). God is GOOD, and His Word is true, and He keeps His promises of eternal life. That alone gives me the encouragement to seek and know the Lord even more...daily. His Word has come alive in my life!

One thing I will never understand is how a person can go through the trial of losing a loved one without relying on Jesus. I know I couldn't. He makes all the difference. Scripture tells us we will have hardships here on earth, but if we believe in Him, we will overcome them…and walk in Paradise WITH Him someday!

Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad

2 roma tomatoes - diced
1 cucumber - peeled and diced
1/2 medium red onion - diced
1/4 cup feta cheese
2 cups cooked brown rice - cooled
1/4 cup light Italian dressing
Dash of garlic salt
Pepper

Combine all ingredients and chill for 20 minutes. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or fish to make it a main dish.

Vanilla-Orange Smoothie

The wonderful thing about smoothies is that it is a way to sneak fruits and veggies into ones diet, particularly children. For instance, the child who is not a fan of bananas will slurp this one down while getting a needed dose of potassium, as well as other vitamins. And...it hits the spot on a hot summer day!

2 C. Ice
2 bananas cut in chunks (I keep frozen ones on hand - just peel them with a knife and cut…they work like ice cubes)
1 C. Vanilla Ice Cream
1-2 C. of Orange Juice (depends on the amount of thickness you prefer)

Combine all ingredients in a blender, starting with the ice and bananas. Blend on High until it reaches the desired consistency.

Homemade Baby Rice Cereal

Rice Cereal using "powder"
Ingredients:
1/4 c. rice powder (brown rice ground in blender or food   processor)
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while   stirring constantly.

2. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in   formula or breast milk and fruits if desired.

3. Serve warm.

Taken from Momtastic.com

The Friends List

Facebook has really become an opportunity for ministry. If you happen to see me logged in, chances are, I'm praying for one or more of my friends. I read through the status updates and see a snapshot of that person's life. Sometimes, I'm blessed and encouraged by what I read because the person is truly being used by God and I pray that He will continue to use them and bless them. Most of the time, however, I read the updates with a sense of urgency to pray for an individual who is hurting, lonely, searching, depressed, desperate, or just plan lost.

There is more to life than "woohoo, it's Friday" or "great dinner…now off to bed"**. There can be joy when Monday hits. We don't have to start the week with "where did the weekend go". We can live with fulfillment everyday. It grieves me to see that joy is so many times associated with the temporary experiences in life. Yes, it's great to enjoy a good meal or have fun on the weekend. But the problem with that thinking is that it is just that…temporary. If we allow ourselves to focus so much on those temporary things then we just find ourselves living from one short-term fulfillment to the next, never totally feeling lasting joy.

So here's the simple recipe to pure, unending happiness…Jesus! That's all there is to it! Giving our life to Him and allowing Him to control us frees us from relying on the temporary pleasures of this world. It gives us that eternal HOPE; a future to live for, and also a supernatural strength to endure the hurts and challenges of life. It turns the mundane into opportunity to grow in faith. When HE leads us through life, we see it through a whole new lens.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

**These are not actual status updates! ;-)