I used to cut things out of papers, write little notes down, etc. when something struck me. As I have been cleaning this week, I found these three quips on "love" and wanted to put them somewhere so I could throw away the papers. I figured sharing them here was a fun place to do that. :-)
From the movie "How to Make an American Quilt" (remember that one??!)
"Young lovers seek perfection, Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together and seeing the beauty in a multiplicity of patches."
Not sure where these two were from :
"There are no justified resentments ~ all things can teach us a deeper connection to love."
"The funny thing about love ~ it's the only game you lose by refusing to play."
Enjoy! :-)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Purging 2
Part of my urge to purge includes "completing" projects. Completing the playroom and transitioning Michelle upstairs was one of those projects. My office is another (it has been in process for about three years, and has improved over time, but still has LOTS of things that need a home/shredder/file so will continue to be in process for awhile). My bedroom is a third, and I am about half-way through with what I am doing there - it is feeling lighter as well, though in general has always been very restful for me because I am very careful to keep excess out in there.
However, this is where my "completing" needs to happen versus purging. I have way too many books stacking up next to my bed again; I continue with a tendency to start reading many books at the same time (whenever one draws my interest). I LOVE books ~ I read often and can spend hours reading (when not playing my new word games addiction). Each night after the kids are in bed and Bo is studying for his classes, I will read and rest with quiet joy/peace. I started "finishing" books awhile back, which helped, but I started so many recently that it needed to be a focused effort. I re-started recently and have begun to make a dent in the piles.
I received a book called "More Whispers of Angels" for Christmas which I loved and read quite quickly (little vignettes that bring our attention to God's hand in our everyday lives). I also finished three novels in a series I had started (six total; these were the last three). But those books don't really count to me as I always read novel type books very quickly. It is the ones that are informational or teaching oriented that I take longer with, though still enjoy immensely. I would say 80 to 90 percent of what I read falls in this category. I have also challenged myself to continue to read the bible through EACH year since I finished last year, as I tend to read the new testament much more than the old, in general, when doing devotions.
I have now finished "How To Forgive...When You Don't Feel Like It" by June Hunt (which I started almost a year ago, then put aside; it is/was a very good book with much food for meditative thought and lots of scripture which I appreciated). and "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace ~ which also was a book I started nearly a year ago, but put aside. It, too, was an excellent tool for learning and encouragement.
The last book I re-started after many months of rest was "The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life" by Charles Spurgeon. This book is meaty and each chapter took a long time for me to read (relative to my normal speed) as I tended to have to focus more closely on what he was trying to convey. I had stopped reading it because of fatigue (fatigue in my life for deep topics that took too much out of me ~ which was the same with the other two books) but I had a fresh wind recently and was renewed in my yearnings for prayer as an ongoing part of each day ~ some really neat quotes from his book included:
"Faith is not believing fanatically but believing the truth. There is a wonderful difference between believing your imaginations and believing what God has distinctly promised. Faith and imagination are two very different things. God keeps us from the falsehood of folly and leads us into the truth of wisdom! "
"How can the ways of the world be followed and the communion with God maintained?...If we could but stand on this earth as upon a mere shadow and live as those who will soon be done with this poor transient life! If we held every earthly thing with a very loose hand, we would not be caring and worrying and fretting, but we would be praying, for thus we grasp the real, the substantial, and plant our feet upon the invisible - which is, after all, the eternal."
I have also been reading many Jerry Bridges books; "The Discipline of Grace" is one I recently finished (also "Respectable Sins, Confronting the sins we all tolerate" which was great). I will post on it at another time - I am really getting a lot out of how this author shares the gospel message and expands upon it's truths.
Praise God for Books! :-)
However, this is where my "completing" needs to happen versus purging. I have way too many books stacking up next to my bed again; I continue with a tendency to start reading many books at the same time (whenever one draws my interest). I LOVE books ~ I read often and can spend hours reading (when not playing my new word games addiction). Each night after the kids are in bed and Bo is studying for his classes, I will read and rest with quiet joy/peace. I started "finishing" books awhile back, which helped, but I started so many recently that it needed to be a focused effort. I re-started recently and have begun to make a dent in the piles.
I received a book called "More Whispers of Angels" for Christmas which I loved and read quite quickly (little vignettes that bring our attention to God's hand in our everyday lives). I also finished three novels in a series I had started (six total; these were the last three). But those books don't really count to me as I always read novel type books very quickly. It is the ones that are informational or teaching oriented that I take longer with, though still enjoy immensely. I would say 80 to 90 percent of what I read falls in this category. I have also challenged myself to continue to read the bible through EACH year since I finished last year, as I tend to read the new testament much more than the old, in general, when doing devotions.
I have now finished "How To Forgive...When You Don't Feel Like It" by June Hunt (which I started almost a year ago, then put aside; it is/was a very good book with much food for meditative thought and lots of scripture which I appreciated). and "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace ~ which also was a book I started nearly a year ago, but put aside. It, too, was an excellent tool for learning and encouragement.
The last book I re-started after many months of rest was "The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life" by Charles Spurgeon. This book is meaty and each chapter took a long time for me to read (relative to my normal speed) as I tended to have to focus more closely on what he was trying to convey. I had stopped reading it because of fatigue (fatigue in my life for deep topics that took too much out of me ~ which was the same with the other two books) but I had a fresh wind recently and was renewed in my yearnings for prayer as an ongoing part of each day ~ some really neat quotes from his book included:
"Faith is not believing fanatically but believing the truth. There is a wonderful difference between believing your imaginations and believing what God has distinctly promised. Faith and imagination are two very different things. God keeps us from the falsehood of folly and leads us into the truth of wisdom! "
"How can the ways of the world be followed and the communion with God maintained?...If we could but stand on this earth as upon a mere shadow and live as those who will soon be done with this poor transient life! If we held every earthly thing with a very loose hand, we would not be caring and worrying and fretting, but we would be praying, for thus we grasp the real, the substantial, and plant our feet upon the invisible - which is, after all, the eternal."
I have also been reading many Jerry Bridges books; "The Discipline of Grace" is one I recently finished (also "Respectable Sins, Confronting the sins we all tolerate" which was great). I will post on it at another time - I am really getting a lot out of how this author shares the gospel message and expands upon it's truths.
Praise God for Books! :-)
Purging 1
I have been in a mood to get rid of stuff ~ my home seems to accumulate things that get used for awhile and then left to the side in favor of other things. That, in addition to the paper trail that always comes through, leaves me feeling a bit crowded at times. This is one of those times.
I was able to give away so many boxes before Christmas; Salvation Army, freecycle, friends who could use what we no longer were needing...but it is hard to see that things have been removed. Well, that isn't completely true; I am feeling a freshness in the home and sensing a bit more flow through the rooms as I continue on my mission, but I still feel OVERWHELMED with the amount of *stuff* we accumulate. I don't know if anybody gets the same sense as I do when walking into a room that has lots in it, but I get overloaded and tune out. I am pretty certain if we had a larger home, it wouldn't feel so crowded, as I tend not to collect things just to fill rooms, but I still believe we could stand to continue to purge.
In the last three days, because of school holidays and snow days, I have been enlisting the help of my girls to cleanse our home from excess. We have freecycled out MANY things that are no longer serving us, given to several people who are delighted to have what we no longer need. What a wonderful way to share it is!
Michelle has now moved into Kari's room, and her room has become a playroom downstairs. That has freed up our living space downstairs to feel less crowded and perhaps stay a bit cleaner (so I won't have to step on small barbie toys or beads on the floor any more, hopefully). It has also allowed the wood stove some breathing space which I prefer for fire hazard concerns.
Today there are five bags sitting on my front porch glider with things in them for various families. I passed on six yesterday and four the day prior. It is such a nice way to share. I hate throwing away perfectly good things that have outlasted their interest or need here. For instance, one of my three drawer containers that the girls used for years at their art table, with pens, scissors, markers, crayons, etc. in the drawers ~ had become a holding tank for miscellaneous junk as they had found other locations for pencils/crayons and spread them out to multiple ares and caches (of course, since I set up the order they had to find what worked best over time). yesterday I gave that drawer stack to a lady in Remington who was starting a home business and had very little extra $$ to purchase office needs. The drawers were sized for 8 1/2 X 11 papers so perfect for her. I love that!
I was able to give away so many boxes before Christmas; Salvation Army, freecycle, friends who could use what we no longer were needing...but it is hard to see that things have been removed. Well, that isn't completely true; I am feeling a freshness in the home and sensing a bit more flow through the rooms as I continue on my mission, but I still feel OVERWHELMED with the amount of *stuff* we accumulate. I don't know if anybody gets the same sense as I do when walking into a room that has lots in it, but I get overloaded and tune out. I am pretty certain if we had a larger home, it wouldn't feel so crowded, as I tend not to collect things just to fill rooms, but I still believe we could stand to continue to purge.
In the last three days, because of school holidays and snow days, I have been enlisting the help of my girls to cleanse our home from excess. We have freecycled out MANY things that are no longer serving us, given to several people who are delighted to have what we no longer need. What a wonderful way to share it is!
Michelle has now moved into Kari's room, and her room has become a playroom downstairs. That has freed up our living space downstairs to feel less crowded and perhaps stay a bit cleaner (so I won't have to step on small barbie toys or beads on the floor any more, hopefully). It has also allowed the wood stove some breathing space which I prefer for fire hazard concerns.
Today there are five bags sitting on my front porch glider with things in them for various families. I passed on six yesterday and four the day prior. It is such a nice way to share. I hate throwing away perfectly good things that have outlasted their interest or need here. For instance, one of my three drawer containers that the girls used for years at their art table, with pens, scissors, markers, crayons, etc. in the drawers ~ had become a holding tank for miscellaneous junk as they had found other locations for pencils/crayons and spread them out to multiple ares and caches (of course, since I set up the order they had to find what worked best over time). yesterday I gave that drawer stack to a lady in Remington who was starting a home business and had very little extra $$ to purchase office needs. The drawers were sized for 8 1/2 X 11 papers so perfect for her. I love that!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Good Article "for" Life ~
Helen M. Bowerman
Submitted By: Cemetery of the Innocents
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 2009 (Rappahanock News)
Three thousand, three hundred white flags have been planted in the lawn of Saint Peter’s Catholic Church on Route 211 in Washington, Va. Each flag in the lawn represents each human life taken by abortion each day. This Cemetery of the Innocents bears witness to the drastic loss of life caused by this American Holocaust.
While a great deal of attention is centered on the Jewish Holocaust, many choose to ignore the Holocaust occurring here in the United States. The number of Jewish children killed through abortion is twice as many as the Jewish people killed by Hitler. Blacks, who make up about one-eighth of the U.S. population, have more than one-third (37 percent) of America’s 2.1 million annual abortions.
If there was ever a racial crime, abortion is it. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which compiles reproductive health statistics, black women abort their children at five times the white rate and twice the Hispanic rate. The current rate is 11 abortions per 1,000 white women, 28 for every 1,000 Hispanic women, and 50 per every 1,000 black women.
But most surprisingly, women who have had abortions say that they never felt they had any other choice. They felt coerced into having an abortion by the baby’s father, or their family, or even by the fact that they could not afford to care for the baby.
A former abortion clinic owner has said than an abortion occurred every 50 seconds in the clinic. Even former clinic employees have spoken of the horrors of the clinics. Women are prevented from seeing their child on a sonogram, the baby is described as tissue, and they are rushed into the procedure to prevent them from changing their minds. Abortions are painful for women. They cause physical pain, and emotional pain. Many women who have had an abortion go through counseling, through programs such as Project Rachel. This program helps women who have endured pain caused by abortions, through a confidential phone line, referrals for professional counseling, and the assistance of a priest to provide spiritual counseling.
Women are not the only persons affected by abortion; men are also deeply affected by abortions. Many men suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by the abortion of their child. Many of the boyfriends and husbands of women who have had abortions experience emotional numbing, diminished interest, detachment from others, reduced communication, a limited range of feelings, and a sense of a foreshortened future. Many also experience difficulty sleeping, eating disorders, anger, an inability to concentrate, and even suicidal thoughts. Clearly, the pain caused by an abortion is much greater than assumed by many, or even mentioned by abortionists.
One of the signs frequently seen at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. says, “Abortion: One dead, One wounded.” Clearly, this is a fact. The only way to prevent this pain is to prevent the massive numbers of abortions provided in the United States. The Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life is devoted to reducing the number of abortions. They planted these flags to ensure that the devastating number of lives ended and affected by abortion each day will not be forgotten.
A great deal of help is needed to prevent abortions. United States citizens need to make their opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) known. This can be done by calling your senators and congressmen. Please join the Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life to bring an end to this Holocaust. For more information, please write to
Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life
P.O. Box 27
Washington, VA 22747
Additional Resources:
Project Rachel
www.arlingtondiocese.org/familylife/rachel.php
Sarah LaPierre, Project Director
Jo Balsamo, Program Coordinator
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 814
Arlington, VA 22203
Telephone Number: (703) 841-2504
Helpline: 1-888-456-HOPE (4673)
E-mail: projectrachel@ arlingtondiocese.org
Submitted By: Cemetery of the Innocents
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 2009 (Rappahanock News)
Three thousand, three hundred white flags have been planted in the lawn of Saint Peter’s Catholic Church on Route 211 in Washington, Va. Each flag in the lawn represents each human life taken by abortion each day. This Cemetery of the Innocents bears witness to the drastic loss of life caused by this American Holocaust.
While a great deal of attention is centered on the Jewish Holocaust, many choose to ignore the Holocaust occurring here in the United States. The number of Jewish children killed through abortion is twice as many as the Jewish people killed by Hitler. Blacks, who make up about one-eighth of the U.S. population, have more than one-third (37 percent) of America’s 2.1 million annual abortions.
If there was ever a racial crime, abortion is it. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which compiles reproductive health statistics, black women abort their children at five times the white rate and twice the Hispanic rate. The current rate is 11 abortions per 1,000 white women, 28 for every 1,000 Hispanic women, and 50 per every 1,000 black women.
But most surprisingly, women who have had abortions say that they never felt they had any other choice. They felt coerced into having an abortion by the baby’s father, or their family, or even by the fact that they could not afford to care for the baby.
A former abortion clinic owner has said than an abortion occurred every 50 seconds in the clinic. Even former clinic employees have spoken of the horrors of the clinics. Women are prevented from seeing their child on a sonogram, the baby is described as tissue, and they are rushed into the procedure to prevent them from changing their minds. Abortions are painful for women. They cause physical pain, and emotional pain. Many women who have had an abortion go through counseling, through programs such as Project Rachel. This program helps women who have endured pain caused by abortions, through a confidential phone line, referrals for professional counseling, and the assistance of a priest to provide spiritual counseling.
Women are not the only persons affected by abortion; men are also deeply affected by abortions. Many men suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by the abortion of their child. Many of the boyfriends and husbands of women who have had abortions experience emotional numbing, diminished interest, detachment from others, reduced communication, a limited range of feelings, and a sense of a foreshortened future. Many also experience difficulty sleeping, eating disorders, anger, an inability to concentrate, and even suicidal thoughts. Clearly, the pain caused by an abortion is much greater than assumed by many, or even mentioned by abortionists.
One of the signs frequently seen at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. says, “Abortion: One dead, One wounded.” Clearly, this is a fact. The only way to prevent this pain is to prevent the massive numbers of abortions provided in the United States. The Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life is devoted to reducing the number of abortions. They planted these flags to ensure that the devastating number of lives ended and affected by abortion each day will not be forgotten.
A great deal of help is needed to prevent abortions. United States citizens need to make their opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) known. This can be done by calling your senators and congressmen. Please join the Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life to bring an end to this Holocaust. For more information, please write to
Saint Peter Parish Committee for Life
P.O. Box 27
Washington, VA 22747
Additional Resources:
Project Rachel
www.arlingtondiocese.org/familylife/rachel.php
Sarah LaPierre, Project Director
Jo Balsamo, Program Coordinator
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 814
Arlington, VA 22203
Telephone Number: (703) 841-2504
Helpline: 1-888-456-HOPE (4673)
E-mail: projectrachel@ arlingtondiocese.org
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Disgusting!
I have never been so disgusted in all of my days. While I knew that our culture was becoming much more permissive, and children were being educated to be "safe" versus abstain. Planned parenthood has taken the cake ~ the worst of it is that OUR tax dollars fund their efforts. Here is information a friend sent me in September (I am just now getting around to previewing; I wish I hadn't had the opportunity quite frankly...but I surely don't want my kids being taught by this ~)
"Planned Parenthood, the billion dollar corporate abortion provider, has taken immorality to a whole new level and is using your taxpayer dollars to spread its toxic propaganda.
"A new Planned Parenthood promotional Web site which targets youth and is called "Take Care Down There," features short "public service" video vignettes which, among other things, promote casual sex, immodesty, homosexuality and even group sex. For example, one video on this new Web site depicts what appears to be an African-American male teenager relegated to performing oral sex on a white male teenager while another white male (an adult authority figure in a suit) stands nearby giving instructions.
"During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Planned Parenthood received a total of $336.7 million from government grants and contracts. In 2008, $300 million was given to family planning clinics, under the Title X program. These funds were used to service over five million people, a third of which received "care" from a Planned Parenthood clinic."
How do we fight governmental support of this?! I don't know, but I will definitely be praying about it.
"Planned Parenthood, the billion dollar corporate abortion provider, has taken immorality to a whole new level and is using your taxpayer dollars to spread its toxic propaganda.
"A new Planned Parenthood promotional Web site which targets youth and is called "Take Care Down There," features short "public service" video vignettes which, among other things, promote casual sex, immodesty, homosexuality and even group sex. For example, one video on this new Web site depicts what appears to be an African-American male teenager relegated to performing oral sex on a white male teenager while another white male (an adult authority figure in a suit) stands nearby giving instructions.
"During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Planned Parenthood received a total of $336.7 million from government grants and contracts. In 2008, $300 million was given to family planning clinics, under the Title X program. These funds were used to service over five million people, a third of which received "care" from a Planned Parenthood clinic."
How do we fight governmental support of this?! I don't know, but I will definitely be praying about it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Anointing the Inaguration ~ Blessing our President
Planning in advance of the Inaguration ~ and the anointing and prayer that has already been occuring....here is where I recieved this information:
"Some doors only Heaven can open."
That was the case yesterday when I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something that in my mind I knew could not be accomplished. When we notified the Capitol Hill police of our intentions they told us in no uncertain terms we would be arrested for our actions. Yet, in obedience to what I knew to be a divine prompting, I proceeded, along with my colleague, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, to the Capitol Building...and there experienced a miracle.
It just so happened (as it so often does for people of faith), when we entered the Capitol complex we met Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia, in the hallway. Congressman Broun is a dynamic and unapologetic Christian. I told him what God had prompted me to do. He immediately agreed and joined me, along with Rev. Mahoney and our chief of staff, Peggy Birchfield, as together we held a prayer service inside the US Capitol that included anointing the doorway President-Elect Barack Obama will pass through on his way to the platform to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20th. (To see this brief but powerful prayer and anointing service, please click here above.)
Anointing with oil is a rich tradition both in the Bible and in the history of the US Capitol. Oil symbolizes consecration, or setting something apart for God's use. George Washington used oil during the dedication of the US Capitol. We used the oil to set apart the walkway and doors that will be the literal right-of-passage for Barack Obama as he ascends to the highest office in our land. Bear in mind this is one of the most cordoned off and highly secured sites in America. It is virtually inaccessible. Yet, there we were, holding a consecration service in obedience to God - the very thing He had placed in my heart.
Rep. Broun delivered a short sermon-like talk on the need to obey God and His will, and for the future president to do what is right. I read Bible passages and applied sacred oil to the doorposts of the arched doorway leading out of the Capitol and onto the inaugural stage, immediately in front of the riser where Obama will stand with Chief Justice John Roberts who will administer the Oath of Office. Rev. Mahoney read a powerful inaugural prayer by Dr. Billy Graham, delivered 40 years ago.Congressman Broun referred to the location of the prayer service as "the doorway that (President-Elect Obama) will enter through to start of his presidency."That doorway has now been consecrated and anointed for the purposes of God."
You and your friends, family, and fellow church members can now join us in prayer for our nation and the transition to a new administration by simply watching the video and praying with us.The more people who watch this video, the more powerful it becomes. That's why we also need you to forward it on to as many people as possible.If Christians across the nation will join together in prayer, I know God will "hear from Heaven and heal our land."
Then forward it on to your family, friends, and fellow church members so together we can raise our voices to God on behalf of our nation in an act of repentance and dedication.Your missionary to our nation's leaders.
Rob Schenk
The Reverend Rob Schenck, D.D., is an Evangelical minister and president of the National Clergy Council and its lay affiliate, Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital.
Reverend Schenck holds degrees in Bible, Theology and Divinity. During his over 25 years of full-time Christian ministry he has been a youth minister, pastor, missionary-evangelist and minister to elected and appointed officials.
Rev. Schenck has traveled extensively, preaching and teaching in over 40 nations. He has most recently led religious diplomatic missions to Sudan (Darfur) and Morocco. He is founder of Operation Serve International, a Christian humanitarian outreach working with the poorest children in the world; Hearts for the Homeless, a mobile advocacy program and the National Memorial for the Pre-born and their Mothers and Fathers, the premiere indoor pro-life event held annually inside the U.S. Capitol complex in Washington, DC.
Rev. Schenck serves on the boards of numerous organizations including the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the National Pro-Life Religious Council and Capitol Hill Executive Service Club. He makes frequent appearances in the media, is a popular conference speaker and is the author of two books.
"Some doors only Heaven can open."
That was the case yesterday when I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something that in my mind I knew could not be accomplished. When we notified the Capitol Hill police of our intentions they told us in no uncertain terms we would be arrested for our actions. Yet, in obedience to what I knew to be a divine prompting, I proceeded, along with my colleague, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, to the Capitol Building...and there experienced a miracle.
It just so happened (as it so often does for people of faith), when we entered the Capitol complex we met Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia, in the hallway. Congressman Broun is a dynamic and unapologetic Christian. I told him what God had prompted me to do. He immediately agreed and joined me, along with Rev. Mahoney and our chief of staff, Peggy Birchfield, as together we held a prayer service inside the US Capitol that included anointing the doorway President-Elect Barack Obama will pass through on his way to the platform to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20th. (To see this brief but powerful prayer and anointing service, please click here above.)
Anointing with oil is a rich tradition both in the Bible and in the history of the US Capitol. Oil symbolizes consecration, or setting something apart for God's use. George Washington used oil during the dedication of the US Capitol. We used the oil to set apart the walkway and doors that will be the literal right-of-passage for Barack Obama as he ascends to the highest office in our land. Bear in mind this is one of the most cordoned off and highly secured sites in America. It is virtually inaccessible. Yet, there we were, holding a consecration service in obedience to God - the very thing He had placed in my heart.
Rep. Broun delivered a short sermon-like talk on the need to obey God and His will, and for the future president to do what is right. I read Bible passages and applied sacred oil to the doorposts of the arched doorway leading out of the Capitol and onto the inaugural stage, immediately in front of the riser where Obama will stand with Chief Justice John Roberts who will administer the Oath of Office. Rev. Mahoney read a powerful inaugural prayer by Dr. Billy Graham, delivered 40 years ago.Congressman Broun referred to the location of the prayer service as "the doorway that (President-Elect Obama) will enter through to start of his presidency."That doorway has now been consecrated and anointed for the purposes of God."
You and your friends, family, and fellow church members can now join us in prayer for our nation and the transition to a new administration by simply watching the video and praying with us.The more people who watch this video, the more powerful it becomes. That's why we also need you to forward it on to as many people as possible.If Christians across the nation will join together in prayer, I know God will "hear from Heaven and heal our land."
Then forward it on to your family, friends, and fellow church members so together we can raise our voices to God on behalf of our nation in an act of repentance and dedication.Your missionary to our nation's leaders.
Rob Schenk
The Reverend Rob Schenck, D.D., is an Evangelical minister and president of the National Clergy Council and its lay affiliate, Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital.
Reverend Schenck holds degrees in Bible, Theology and Divinity. During his over 25 years of full-time Christian ministry he has been a youth minister, pastor, missionary-evangelist and minister to elected and appointed officials.
Rev. Schenck has traveled extensively, preaching and teaching in over 40 nations. He has most recently led religious diplomatic missions to Sudan (Darfur) and Morocco. He is founder of Operation Serve International, a Christian humanitarian outreach working with the poorest children in the world; Hearts for the Homeless, a mobile advocacy program and the National Memorial for the Pre-born and their Mothers and Fathers, the premiere indoor pro-life event held annually inside the U.S. Capitol complex in Washington, DC.
Rev. Schenck serves on the boards of numerous organizations including the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the National Pro-Life Religious Council and Capitol Hill Executive Service Club. He makes frequent appearances in the media, is a popular conference speaker and is the author of two books.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Infant Swimming
When I was growing up, we spent summers in a cottage next to the ocean in Norway. One night my brother climbed up onto a stool and crawled out the kitchen window in the middle of the night. This was a tiny window, but the only thing open in the house. He was a toddler at the time. He fell to the ground and toddled over to our pier, walking along it and then falling into the ocean (from the story I got; not sure of all the details; I was an infant at the time). My parents awoke during his commotion and when figured out what the noises were, ran to save him. If they had not, it could have been a tragedy.
I know many people who have swimming pools in their back yards, others who take their kids to the lakes and such; the ability not to panic is such an important skill. This video demonstrates a program that goes one step further ~ it is amazing to me to watch (I was getting teary eyed; I am not sure how the mother was able to film this without wanting to jump in and rescue this toddler)...
Blessings on your day ~
I know many people who have swimming pools in their back yards, others who take their kids to the lakes and such; the ability not to panic is such an important skill. This video demonstrates a program that goes one step further ~ it is amazing to me to watch (I was getting teary eyed; I am not sure how the mother was able to film this without wanting to jump in and rescue this toddler)...
Blessings on your day ~
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Poetic Musings
I was reading a book of inspirational vignettes last night before bed, and these thoughts came to me as I closed the cover ~
In this imperfect world,
With my imperfect life,
I'm an imperfect person,
and an imperfect wife.
Dust bunnies abound,
Kids leave streaks on the walls,
Stacks of books grace some tables~
Stained rugs in some halls.
Routines are attempted,
But often not kept
Critters are fed,
without cages swept.
The list of "to do"
Is longer than "done."
And play, versus work,
Seems so much more fun.
My house, I'd admit,
Is not what I knew~
But my children's sweet smiles
Make up for this skew.
But I'll take my ole house
And imperfect ways,
Over anything fancier
That doesn't have frays.
In this home, I've learned,
through good and through bad,
Life's the most precious
Gift that I have.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
No School
We live in Fauquier County, Virginia ~ a county that resonates with beauty and back roads. Today we have no school. As I walked outside to get some wood for our wood stove this morning, I felt rain and coolness - but nothing more. It was only 6:15 a.m. Schools are closed because of icy conditions...????
The weather forecasts a day with temps around 34 for the low ~ so not freezing conditions. I am only using our wood stove because our heat pump is not working and any time we need heat to keep us at 68 here, the emergency/resistive heat kicks on which draws much more energy, so I am trying to keep the house warm so we don't use the emergency heat source.
Growing up in Northern Virginia while my dad was stationed at the Pentagon, I used to listen to school closings on snowy mornings and be jealous of Fauquier county as they "always" seemed to be closed. Now, I probably don't remember as much as I think I do ~ especially since I remember many more snowy winters in Virginia, and we have not had much of that lately (ice storms because of the humidity with the cooler weather, but not snow which requires the drier air).
Fauquier County DOES have many back roads and mountainous roads for buses to traverse. With trees on the sides of the roads, icy patches are more evident and dangerous. To this, I would agree. However, with todays' weather I would have expected a possible delay versus a closing. Especially since the kids JUST WENT BACK yesterday. Can you imagine the poor teachers trying to get things started again tomorrow (provided it doesn't ice up again overnight, which is shouldn't according to the weather). We still have Martin Luther King Day holiday, two half days, and two days off this month based upon the school calendar. It will be a choppy month as it is.
Michelle is home today, as well. The Classical Conversations community also closed due to icy possibilities. While she and I are both disappointed, this is probably the best thing since both of her sisters are home and I don't have a sitter available for them. They are making waffles now, and looking forward to another day of play. I desire to get Michelle to do some work, but that will be tough with the other two playing ~ praying for creative ideas as I type this ~ may those who are reading be blessed this day. I hope to get back on track with blogging as I have had lots of great thoughts that were blogged in my head over the past few weeks, just none that actually made it to the computer :-) Happy New Year!
The weather forecasts a day with temps around 34 for the low ~ so not freezing conditions. I am only using our wood stove because our heat pump is not working and any time we need heat to keep us at 68 here, the emergency/resistive heat kicks on which draws much more energy, so I am trying to keep the house warm so we don't use the emergency heat source.
Growing up in Northern Virginia while my dad was stationed at the Pentagon, I used to listen to school closings on snowy mornings and be jealous of Fauquier county as they "always" seemed to be closed. Now, I probably don't remember as much as I think I do ~ especially since I remember many more snowy winters in Virginia, and we have not had much of that lately (ice storms because of the humidity with the cooler weather, but not snow which requires the drier air).
Fauquier County DOES have many back roads and mountainous roads for buses to traverse. With trees on the sides of the roads, icy patches are more evident and dangerous. To this, I would agree. However, with todays' weather I would have expected a possible delay versus a closing. Especially since the kids JUST WENT BACK yesterday. Can you imagine the poor teachers trying to get things started again tomorrow (provided it doesn't ice up again overnight, which is shouldn't according to the weather). We still have Martin Luther King Day holiday, two half days, and two days off this month based upon the school calendar. It will be a choppy month as it is.
Michelle is home today, as well. The Classical Conversations community also closed due to icy possibilities. While she and I are both disappointed, this is probably the best thing since both of her sisters are home and I don't have a sitter available for them. They are making waffles now, and looking forward to another day of play. I desire to get Michelle to do some work, but that will be tough with the other two playing ~ praying for creative ideas as I type this ~ may those who are reading be blessed this day. I hope to get back on track with blogging as I have had lots of great thoughts that were blogged in my head over the past few weeks, just none that actually made it to the computer :-) Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
