Change
Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 03:54 by faithfarm - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link
I was up at an unusually early hour this morning so I thought I'd turn on the computer and see what was going on in the world. I see that it is official now, the Fed has announced the US has been in a recession since Dec 2007....glad they finally figured out what most of us have already felt and known. Yeah I know--a bit sarcastic--it's a numbers thing. There were a few other headlines that caught my eye-Pentagon to deploy 20,000 troops in the US...interesting...I am curious to see who is going to be in charge of these troops...State or Fed?....Looks like it will fall under FEMA....HMMMMM...something to think about anyway. I also read some headlines on the Pres.-elect Obama's choices for his new team members....alot of familiar faces taking key cabinet positions. I see that they are going to have to use the "Saxbe fix" again to skirt the Constitution. Seems like that happens alot. There are a number of other headlines that I found interesting but won't bore you with. I have noticed that when you look at the media only one or twice a week it keeps you informed but doesn't bog down your daily life. There is so much going on and so many ways to get information these days that I personally think it desensitizes us to what is happening. Does that make since? Take for example the markets. You have dramatic gains and losses now--your talking about losses of 600+ points in a day and gains of triple digits--talk about a rollercoaster ride! Yet only a year ago these types of headlines would have been horribly shocking-and now they have become the norm. Desensitization. That is only the tip of the iceburg so to speak. Can you imagine how shocking today's headlines would be only 10 years ago? Terrorism being an everyday topic? Who woulda thunk it? And yet it still doesn't shock us today------I pray that I don't get so numb to things that I am no longer shocked by it and that my heart doesn't harden to the point that that I cannot see. Yes I do long for the days that your house was always open and church doors were never locked-but those days are gone. When you read stories of a man being trompled to death because of a sale at W-mart....it really makes you wonder---What kind of people have so little regard for human life that they can step on another human being to death?! The same kind of people who give gift certificates for abortions.....Oh it is a sad-sad thing we as a nation of people have become. Let us not become so numb that we cannot feel compassion for one another. This nation needs a change.....a change of heart...that is not something any political figure can do...it's a choice each and everyone of us have to make and make on a daily basis....do we stop our busy lives long enough to make a difference in someone elses life. Are we so busy with our own that we can't take 2 minutes to be kind to the elderly lady in the store or open a door for the woman with wrestling with a handful of children. It breaks my heart when kindness is the shocking thing and when cynicism replaces empathy. Let me tell you a story about something that happened to me this last week----I went to the local feed mill and got my usual run of feed-I was busy on the phone and did not pay attention to the new guy loading my feed and when I got home I noticed that there was an extra bag of high-dollar feed in the back-one that I did not pay for...in all honesty....it took me a moment to decide what I should do....I wanted to say yipeee--free feed! but my better side knew I needed to call and explain what had happened. So I did...and the response I got was what shocked me the most. I told them what had happened and I'd pay for the bag the next time I came in....They were very puzzled acting on the phone--so the next time I went in to town I made a run to the mill and picked up my ticket...they still seemed totally shocked and almost questioned why I did...the look was actually skeptical like I had another motive for doing it...it was a very odd situation. The lady apoligized for the event but the look of puzzled never left her face. Yes I know...who would have known? I would have. How can I expect others to treat me honestly and fairly if I do not treat others the same way. The point I am getting to is not one of hey-look at what I did-"toot-toot my horn"-but the fact that honesty is so uncommon that even that is met with skepticism. Are we so far from where we should be that we can no longer look at another person without questioning their motives or integrity? I am just as guilty...I see the "homeless" man on the street corner holding a sign and ask myself...hmmmm-is he one of those cons clearing $200,000 a year begging on the street? Sad-Sad. Where is my heart? Am I giving him a dollar because I want to help someone in need...if he is not for-real does that change the motive behind my actions? Am I doing it because of me or am I doing it because of him? Am I going to have to answer to his actions? No....but I am going to have to answer to mine. And something tells me that using the excuse for not helping the needy or feeding the hungry is because I thought they might be a con-artist isn't going to get me very far. I'm not out to save the world or am I trying to get anyone else to...but wouldn't it be a better place if we all took just a few minutes out of each day to be nice to each other-to smile and be kindhearted. To make a difference to those we do come into contact with--Why do we find that so hard to do? Wave at your mailman, be kind to the pregnant cashier who is snappy with you or the gas station attendant who has been up all night. Everyone has their own story and reasons--is it so much easier to be mean back-than to be nice? We have to start somewhere....we can't be so afraid that we forget what makes us who we are. I know there has to be more caring compassionate people in this world than there is hard-hearted people. We just get lost in the business of the day....I think it is high time we find ourselves....not because 'tis the season' but because that is who we are...a nation filled with honorable, trustworthy, compassionate, caring people. Politics can't make that kind of change-but the people can-we can. Blessings>faithfarm
Week 3 Reflections
Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 06:04 by Charity - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
We did manage to get the Kitchen half way clean. We too all manage my husban I and my children to sit down at the table together it was nice. Since it was a last minute change of plans I wasn't able to prepare everything. I bought two pies, some turkey drumsticks, some rolls, and made a greenbean casserole, develed eggs a bowl of salad, mashed potatoes, and chocholate chip cookie delight.
After our meal my baby still wasn't feeling well. Something just wasn't right!! I kept smelling a smell on my babies breath like I remember with my other son. Could this be the fruity smell that they talk about that diabetics get, I thought too my self. I hated that all the doctors offices were closed because I would have my baby tested to ease my worries. We had a meter because my 14 year old is diabetic and keytone sticks. I decided I would just use the keytone sticks to check if he had keytones. I pressed the sticks on his wet diaper and the stick showed large keytones. I couldn't believe it could this be accurate. I called the after hours emergency number of my childrens primary care physian. They told me to go with my gut feeling and go ahead and take him to the ER. They checked my babies urine to see if there was any sugar in it. There was, then they meter tested him his BG was 400 and something. They walked out and I started crying a can't believe my baby is dieabetic I can't believe we now have two children with diabetes. It is yet another ruff road ahead of us. They admitted my precious baby in the hospital and we stayed until saterday evening. I am thankful we caught it when we did!
My mother in law helped with our other kids durning all this. She always is always there for us when ruff times hit. She is doesn't hesitate to come help us out with the kids. When we got home I noticed she cleaned out our fridgerator and microwave. It is always such an embarrasment for me for my mother in law to see my house in such a mess. My kitchen was the cleanesses place in the whole house and it still needed work. Though I am so greatful for my mother in law help. Words can't express my graditude she is always there for us!!
We may have a few thorns in our journey of healful living but we will continue to move forward with our heavenly Father by our side. We will learn to walk this ruff road with all its obstacles with the thorn in our sides and the pain that we bare togther we shall make it, another step day by day.
Oh Joy!
Posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 11:22 by blessed mom - 5 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Today I had a conversation with a friend who is not a Christian ~ this friend has tried on various occasions to persuade me to accept the teachings of their church ~~ this person knows me well and paid me the most precious and lovely compliment a believer of the Lord Jesus could ever be told...... it has made my heart sing for Joy an I just needed to share it here with you all because so many of you love my Jesus as much as I do and will understand!!
This person told me that " born again Christians like me and another Christian they know were content with Jesus and not looking for any thing else" ....... oh dear reader -- can I just tell you how my heart lept for JOY when this friend shared this with me????
Oh that I would always be content with my Jesus..... oh that I would always have such closeness to Him that I would never feel the need for "religion" or "other teachings" outside of what He has given us in His word...... oh, how that made my heart sing!
One of my favorite songs is Shout to the Lord by Hillspring ........
My Jesus, My Savior,..... Lord there is none like you...... all of my days, I want to praise.... the wonders of your mighty hand....
My Jesus, My comfort.... tower of refuge and strength....let every breathe, all that I am.. never cease to worship YOU.......
Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing... power and majesty praise to the King......
The mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of YOUR name ....
I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I'll love you forever I'll stand....
nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU.........
Praising Him!
Gloria
Advent Day 1 - December 1st
Posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 09:00 by ~Rebekah~ - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Scripture Reading
Creation: Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4
Suggested Symbols: Sun, moon, stars, animals, earth
Advent- The Story Of The Jesse Tree
Posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 08:36 by ~Rebekah~ - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
The Story Of The Jesse Tree
Jesse Tree Graphic Designed by Shalfleet
The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." It is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. The Branch is a biblical sign of newness out of discouragement, which became a way to talk about the expected messiah (e.g., Jer 23:5). It is therefore an appropriate symbol of Jesus the Christ, who is the revelation of the grace and faithfulness of God.
The Israelites through the descendants of Abraham were chosen by God to be a light to the nations. When they were imprisoned by the Egyptians, they cried out to God for deliverance from their oppression. And God responded: "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry . . . I have come to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them to a good land" (Exod 3:7-8). And so He entered history in a marvelous way to deliver them and bring them into a place where they could worship God and serve Him in peace and joy instead of serving Pharaoh in hard service. God promised to be with them and to be their God, and they would be His people.
But as they settled into the land that God had given them, "they forgot God, their Deliverer, who had done great things in Egypt" (Psa 106:21). As they grew secure in the land, they began to believe that "my power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me these things" (Deut 8:17). Even though God had raised up godly leaders like David, later kings and religious leaders served their own interests, and the people began to worship the false gods of the land. They even gave offerings to the idol ba’al, supposedly the god of rain and fertility of the land, thanking him for the prosperity they enjoyed.
But God grieved because "she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished upon her silver and gold that they used for ba’al" (Hos 2:8). God had "planted [them] as a choice vine from the purest stock" (Jer 2:21) and had expected them to grow and flourish and carry out His purposes in the world. But they had degenerated into a wild bush with worthless fruit.
Because they had forgotten God, they also forgot the call of God to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Mic 6:8). God sent prophets to warn them of the consequences of failing to be His people. Amos warned them to "seek me and live" (5:4). Through Jeremiah, God promised them that if they would turn from their wicked ways He would bless them and be with them in the land (7:5-7). But he also said: "Take heed, O Jerusalem, or I shall turn from you in disgust, and make you a desolation" (6:8).
Some of the people longed for new leaders, a new "anointed" (Heb: meshiach; Eng: messiah) shepherd king like David who would help them to become what God had called them to be. But most of the people would not listen. They continued to worship the idols of ba'al. They continued to cheat the poor, steal from each other, neglect the needy, and do all manner of evil.
So God let them go their own way and suffer the consequences of their choices. The Babylonian armies came and destroyed the temple, the city of Jerusalem, the land, and took the people into slavery. The choice planting of God that had such promise, that God had tended so carefully and encouraged to grow, was cut down and became a mere stump (Isa 5:1-10).
But God did not give up on this people! Even though they had disobeyed, even though they had forsaken God for other gods, even though they had miserably failed to be His people and to let Him be their God, the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob still loved them. He had made a commitment to these people that He would not allow to be undone even by their rejection of Him.
He had already told them this through the prophets, but they had not understood then. Jeremiah had promised a day when God would again plant and build (31:28). And Isaiah had spoken of a time when God would cause a new shoot, a new king, to spring from the cut-off stump of the lineage of Jesse, David’s father (11:1). During the Exile, suffering under the consequences of sin, they had little reason to suppose that God would do anything new. Still, the old promises echoed across the years, even if they could not believe them or even understand them.
In spite of their failures, in spite of their inability to envision a future beyond exile, there came a time when the prophets again announced a new thing, proclaiming "good tidings" to the people: "Here is your God!" (Isa 40:1-11). The Exile was ended! God would bring back to life a nation that was already dead (Eze 37). Long ago they had been slaves in Egypt, with nothing they could do to change their condition, and yet God had chosen to deliver.
So now, in the midst of their failure and hopelessness, God had again entered history as Deliverer. They would have another chance to be His people, not because they had earned it, no more than they had deserved it the first time; but simply because God in His grace had chosen to forgive.
They returned to the land. But across the years, they again struggled to obey and live up to their calling. They would never again slide into the worship of false gods. They had learned that lesson. But the great kingdom that they dreamed of restoring remained only a dream. They had hoped for a new king like David to lead them into a glorious future in which they would rule the world. They hoped to throw off the control of the Greeks and later the Romans and become a great nation. But it didn’t happen. And they became disillusioned and discouraged.
So, they again hoped for God to raise up a new king, a new messiah, to deliver them from the oppression of the world. They longed for peace and deliverance from the tyranny of a sinful world. The prophets again brought the word of God to them, and promised a newness. Even though they struggled to understand and believe, they held onto the hope that the same God who brought slaves out of Egypt, and who brought exiles out of Babylon, could bring Messiah into the world!
We know the rest of that story. God was faithful to that promise, and a new King was born in Bethlehem. So we can exclaim with the old man Simeon: "My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before all people, a light of revelation to the nations, and for glory to your people Israel!" (Luke 2:30-32).
But we also know that the world is still with us. Even though we can have Peace and Joy through the presence of Jesus Christ, we still long for deliverance from the oppression of sin in the world. We long for the full reign of the King, and the Kingdom of Peace that He will bring. So, while we celebrate the birth of the Branch, the new shoot from the stump of Jesse, we still anticipate with hope the Second Advent, and await the completion of the promise.
The Jesse Tree helps us retell this story, and express this hope.
Back to the grindstone..........
Yup, it's Monday adn we are HOME! I'm glad. I missed my bed. Alot. A really really lot!ROTFL!
I managed to wash both boys sheets, my new brown cords (THAT I LOVE!) and the darks before we had to get to town to meet an online friend! I hadn't met her before and what fun! She's such a nice person anyway. ;) I bought something for a friend for Christmas while at Cracker Barrel (where we simply met!;)) and out we went. I don't usually bribe my children, but we were all tired from the long weekend so I told them that I"d get them hot chocolate (Joey) nad pumpkin cappucino (Mat) if they BEHAVED! They were really good!LOL Then to Lowe's to check out a tip on some scrapbooking stuff and then to get some bread and gas. Joey managed to jostle his cup enuf to spill it down the front of his coat, shirt and jeans. I got teh cup cleaned up and realized that I did not see my Cracker Barrel purchase. I decided that I left it there and sent Mat in after it. Thankfully he came out w/it!LOL It's always humbling to do something stupid like leave your purchase at the counter and wonder out of the store!LOL
Then back home to finish up laundry and decide that fried potatoes would go well w/bacon and eggs. And a few rounds of Word Twist on Facebook tossed in there..........LOL
Template change
Posted on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 02:57 by haflinger - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link
Can I do a different template with out loosing what I have for info? thanks Brenda
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