Going to the Sun....

Contrary to your thinking, this indeed, is no middle aged crime boss, but it is our very own "Art Dog" during intermission from the "buzz" Archer was giving him ;-)

Here, he has been ruefully assigned a kitchen cleaning job.....

The Girls Camping

Miss Moonbeam doing who knows what?!? and with a lot of attitude ;-)

My Motocross Men

And our beloved Artdog again.....

My boyz out riding today.....

There is this place in Glacier National Park called "Going to the Sun" road. It is fitly named because it feels like you might be driving there. Its a beautiful place. Some of our friends are coming out from MN to go to a camp near there. After that they are coming to visit us! If I can butter up my husband enough, we just might get to take in a few days of that family camp ;-) Anyhow, as I was saying, "Going to the Sun" road got me thinking.........

Over the past several months, I've been through more than my share of challenges. Lots of feelings flood my being to the point where I don't know what to believe. Emotions are just emotions and they aren't reliable to what the truth always is, but they always feel real. That's when "Going to the Sun" road comes in. Theres this path, old and well travelled where I can go to find the truth and rest I need. Its the road where my battles cease and the destination is away by but moments......

Today, as I walked through the forest paths, the lupine were just coming into bloom. The purple splendor against the forest green carpet was just breath taking. I walked along that all familiar path until I reached an intersection. To go left or right would just take me down the dusty road, but following it ever so slightly to where the path can be found again, I headed down to my all familiar favorite place, maybe in all the world. Its a path along which the lupine bloom amongst other wild flowers. As you begin to descend you can see the crystal clear waters of my favorite mountain lake. Its the best kept secret where few venture, but many return. There I sat and found myself "Going to the Son". Something amazing happens every time. I just have to remember that path. When I close my eyes in meditation, any place on earth, and purpose to enter into His presence, He is there. Suddenly the sonlight splashes through my soul and the heart that seems so broken finds rest and restoration once again.

As the once empty, once devastated, once broken woman found peace near the waters, I was reminded that the reason we share our faith is so that others, too, might find that peace and wholeness. It was then that I wanted to post about finding that road called "Going to the Son"......................................

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

God Bless The Sandman

Top of Our Driveway

Middle part of our driveway. (Bottom part curves around and down to meet the road.)

After 2 - 12 hour Emergency Room night shifts under a full moon, and a grocery / errand run, at noon yesterday, I woke up at the bottom of our drive way with the sick realization that I would be scaling it. Armed with 4 bags of groceries, I began the adventurous ascent. I'd only fallen down it once on the way down the day before and I was hopeful that I could do it today fall free.

Days before, my husband had discovered that the only way we were getting the chained 4wd up was to winch it, and that, in itself, was a dangerous proposition after several failed attempts.

After that, he announced to the family that all wood and groceries had to be hauled up by sweat. Rather than complaining, the kids made a game of hauling sleds full of wood up ice mountain to see who could pull the the most. It wasn't long before I was challenged and had to try the feat myself. Pulling up heavy weights on ice is quite the challenge, as there is a terrific force trying to make you slide backward. Though our drive way is the worst this year, God Bless the Sandman who came out to do the road the other day. I'm so relieved I don't have to chain up to get out of here any more........................................

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In other news, check out The Sock Fashion Experts New Cooking Blog.
Also, Here's a Post on Art Dog's New Invention.
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There are some other things I've been long overdue to blog about. I don't want to offend anybody, so if you're not into reading my "deep thought" sections, then STOP HERE. As I was saying, I've been long over due to talk about The Goodness of God. I don't know anybody who has seen more miraculous occurrences than me. I could talk about them till pigs fly and never be finished having stories to tell.
It seems like a majority of people have chronic or irreversible health circumstances. Some are worse off than others. Everybody has a story to tell. How we deal with those chronic conditions seems to make or break a person. People who focus on their problems tend to have those problems worse and more of them. Of course denial never helped anybody either. As much as some people believe that these chronic problems are "a gift from God", I don't hold to that either.

The Bible says in John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." I believe that God has good plans for your life. Plans for good "with a hope and a future". If you have convinced yourself that there is nothing good ahead, there probably won't be. If you chose to believe that there are no limits with God, anything is possible. Nothing on this earth permanent. Maybe modern medicine can't change your circumstances, but God can. The Bible also says that "A Merry Heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones." If you believe that nothing but worse is ahead, the depression, alone, will kill you. If you believe that there is a hope and a future ahead, a hopeful and joyful spirit ensues and you will, indeed, have good. Your outlook on your life is very much the direction that you will find yourself headed. Confessing The Word of God over yourself is a powerful way to change your circumstances. God's word is a supernatural substance that brings the power for change into your life dramatically when you use it. Deuteronomy says that God gives us a choice and then encourages us to "chose life".
Every time I struggle, I go back to the Word and find a way to apply it to my problems. I have this awesome little book that I've carried around for years with me that I keep in my Bible. Its called "Decree" by Patricia King. She took a lot of scriptures and put them together into sections of her book regarding particular areas of life. Its super easy to take a couple of minutes and read it out loud to yourself. Here's her section on healing. It would be a great idea for you to speak this over yourself each morning. Try it for a week and see how your outlook on life changes. Try it for 2 weeks and maybe the depression won't be quite so bad. Keep on with it, finding other scriptures for other areas and you might find that some of the chronic problems you've faced weren't so chronic after all...............
DECREE - Health and Healing (taken from pg 41-43)
I praise the Lord with all that is within me and do not forget any of His benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases; He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion. Jesus satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like eagle's.
The Lord brings me to health and healing. He heals me and lets me enjoy abundant peace and security. The Sun of righteousness arises for me with healing in his wings, and I go out and leap like a calf released from the stall. Jesus bore my sins in his body on the cross, so that I might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his stripes I am healed. As my days are, so shall my strength be.
Jesus sent forth his word and healed me; He rescued me from the grave. When I cry out, the Lord hears me; He delivers me from all my troubles. The Lord is close to me when I am broken hearted and saves me when I am crushed in spirit. He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound mind.
At times I may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers me from them all; He protects all my bones; not one of them will be broken. I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.
When the Lord's servants lay hands on me I recover, and when I am sick, I call for the elders who pray over me, anointing me with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith saves me, and the Lord raises me up.
The Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Jesus is the Resurrection and the life. Because I believe in Him, I will live for all eternity. In Christ I live, and move and have my being.
Because I dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the Shadow of the Almighty, I will say of the Lord "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save me from the Fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He covers me with his feathers, and under His wings I find refuge; His faithfulness is my shield and rampart. I do not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but they will not come near me. I will only observe with my eyes, and see the punishment of the wicked. Because I make the Most High my dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall me, no disaster will come near my tent. He will command his Angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways; they will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not strike my foot against a stone. I will tread upon the lion and the cobra; I will trample the great lion and the serpent. Because I love the Lord, He will rescue and protect me from all accident, harm, sickness and disease He is with me in trouble and delivers me. With long life He satisfies me and shows me His salvation.
Because I consider the poor, the Lord will deliver me in times of trouble. The Lord will protect me and keep me alive, and I shall be blessed upon the earth. He will not give me over to the desire of my enemies. The Lord will sustain me upon my sickbed; in my illness, He will restore me to health.
Scripture References: Psalm 34:17-20, 41:1-3,52:8; 103:1-3; 91; 107:20; Deuteronomy 33:25; Jeremiah 33:6; Malachi 4;2, 1 Peter 2:24, Deuteronomy 33:25; Romans 12:1; John 11:25,26; 2 Timothy 1:17; Mark 16:18; James 5:14,15

Divine Inspiration

Most of the major things we do are completely out of character for ourselves. It started almost from the beginning of time and just kept on going. As a young girl, I had no plans of marriage or children, in fact I'd planned otherwise - lol. I was also planning to be the first woman president ;-) As a teen I had the idea of playing the field, then I met my husband at 16. In our 20's we planned on going our own way with careers and dreams, then we decided to follow God and ended up doing years of ministry work. Just when we thought we'd stay at what we were doing forever, we moved to Montana. When we planned to keep doing ministry work, God opened the door for us to start a wild land fire fighting company and suddenly we were cutting edge entrepreneurs in a brand new specialized field of service. We never planned on missionary work, but it happened. We never planned on a big family, but every time we decided we wanted another one and we love every minute of them all. I could go on and on and on about how every time I think things should be going a certain way, they change, but it would be useless, you get the point. Just when we get comfortable or think we're headed one way, God seems to turn us yet a different direction. People look at us and scratch their heads. Sometimes I wonder, but in the end I am laughing. Serving God is exciting that way. Its as Steven Curtis Chapman once said "This is the Great Adventure". If you haven't tried it, you should. You'd never be the same. Life would go from boring to extreme and worry and sorrow would be replaced with peace and joy. Anyway, I wasn't wanting to preach or anything, I was just expressing myself, kind of like Moonbeam here in the picture.
Lately we've been thinking about doing this crazy thing that is completely out of character again and I have ZERO desire to do it. Then theres this crazy excitement in me wondering if its really Gods plan. Hoping it isn't, but wondering how awesome it could be if it really is? Mixed emotions - joy, terror, dread and giddiness all mixed up, but still pouting over Hawaii a little too ;-) There is just no dispute that when we follow the whispered direction, incredible supernatural occurrences follow. Its almost as if we're in a different plane and there are no regular boundaries. Some how that step of faith and obedience is rewarded in ways we couldn't fathom. That's when the head scratches become the gawking, amazed and even jealous and I am smiling from behind a large shadow covered in feathers again, laughing. Is a plan finally unveiling again?

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (New King James Version)
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Right A Wrong :-)

The event is fresh in my mind, though it happened many many years ago. I had taken my toddler (now 19) to a Community Easter Celebration. There were baskets of candy and toys, scads of people and wonderful looking grand prizes, namely 4 bikes. A large and a small 2 wheeler for boys drawing and for girls as well. I didn't know it, but early that morning a mother had bowed her head in prayer and asked God for her little girl to win. Her daughter was the youngest of several children and the mom didn't have the money to buy her one. Anyway, as the events of the celebration proceeded they began calling out names for the bikes. When it came time for the girls bikes the mother loudly gasped when they called her daughters name. As they made their way to the front of the auditorium the lady directing the event loudly protested as soon as they were up on the stage. "There's been some mistake - The mother put her daughters name in the wrong drawing." After standing up on stage, in front of all those people, the woman dismissed them without a second thought and drew another name. The mother put her head down, red faced pulling the confused little girl away. Sick with embarrassment for her and angry at the person directing the events, I made my way over to the mother. "I didn't put her name in the wrong drawing" she choked in a strained whisper. "I know, because I made sure of it." With that, the mother gathered up her children and left devastated at the turn of events.
Thoughts of the day plagued me well into the night. Day after day, I just couldn't get over the look on the mother and daughters faces. She was a friend of mine, and I took the event personally. Finally, I could not rest but to make things right as best I could. I approached a few people I knew and gathered up enough money for the little girl to have a brand new bike of her own. I'll never forget bringing the money over to the mothers house because she started crying and told me about how she'd prayed for her daughter to win. The event sickened me even more, but I could finally rest knowing that I'd done what I could to make things right. The mother knew somebody saw and cared enough to do something. The little girl got her bike.
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Another unforgettable event happened to me as a teenager. I was the new girl in town and we'd joined a local church. The youth group was going on a ski trip far from where we lived. We didn't have the money for me to go. Then somebody told my mom that one of the girls really wanted me to go so her dad was paying my way. That intrigued me and I kept wondering who this mystery girl was. I was excited about the trip. I had high hopes of making friends with this girl whoever she was. Though I didn't have any money to take along, I had gone baby sitting and my earnings were in the form of a $10 check made out to me.
When the day finally arrived, I noticed that the group of girls didn't talk to me at all. They didn't seem friendly. Only one boy was going, who was an obvious "problem child". Right from the get go, he started acting out and saying strange things. I felt sorry for him. He seemed really messed up. On and on I wondered who my mystery friend was.......
When we got to McDonald's, we all went up to the counter and ordered. It was then that I discovered that the youth leaders weren't going to pay for my meal. I tried to quietly let them know that I was supposed to be paid for but they didn't believe me. Finally they took my $10 check signed over to them and handed over that much cash. I was mortified. How was I going to survive eating out for days on $10? It was only the first of many many humiliating things to happen to me. After we got back in the car, one of the girls explained to me that her dad "felt sorry" for the kids who couldn't pay so he said he'd do it.
Before we got to our destination, the girls had decided that I would stay in a motel room with the youth leaders wife "since I didn't have any money". They would be pitching in for an extra room so they could stay together. This made the youth leaders wife cry because she wanted them to like her. Then the youth leader told them "no" and the girls were mad. I could see by now I was in for a couple days of misery. I kept thinking "if I could only make it to the youth conference" because I was sure somebody I knew would be there and loan me the money I needed to eat.
Each time we ate out, the girls demanded to go to expensive places and the youth leaders said "no" explaining that not everyone could afford it. Then the girls would be mad because they were suffering due to the poor of the group. Each time I would buy a small fries or dollar burger, dollar taco, whatever. Then the leaders would say something like "aren't you hungry?" I would lie and say I'd had enough. Finally one of them said they'd "loan me some money" if I ran out.
I don't remember skiing, except that it wasn't much fun for me because I didn't have any energy. When we got to the youth conference, there was nobody there that I knew. Especially not the lady I felt sure would be there. Again, the sinking feeling came and I knew that I was going to have to conserve what money I had left if I was going to eat anything at all the next day. By now I knew the girls not only didn't want to be my friend, but they didn't want me there at all.
Finally the day came when we would make the long trip home. The girls demanded time at the local mall. They asked for 4 hours, but only got two. They were real mad. One of them had several hundred dollars in her purse and she let everybody know that. Several times she passed by me with lots of bags while I aimlessly wandered around with nothing to do. I felt embarrassed that I couldn't buy anything, so instead of eating with my money, I spent my last dollar on a pair of plastic sunglasses. At least I could pretend that I found something I liked.
When it was all over, on that long ride home, I promised myself I would NEVER NEVER put myself in such a position again. I also made up my mind there was nothing my parents could ever do to get me to go back to that youth group again. The next Sunday in church, the pastor said in real fast words "sorry about the misunderstanding" and handed me back my signed over uncashed check. That was all.
That was the school year that I started hanging out with the "burn out" kids. Though they were the "wrong group" of kids, at least they had some sense of belonging and camaraderie among themselves and they were all too happy for me to join. As a teenager, I was to never again join a youth group.
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Now please don't think for a moment that I told you that story to evoke some sympathetic bone. Really, it was not all that unusual. Neither of those events were. Those kinds of things happen to people every day. They just happened to be the times they happened involving me. One individuals self absorption, can cause a world of hurt in another. People can be and are thoughtless, even mean. Some of them just don't care at all who they hurt along the way. Sad thing is that a lot of the hurting going on is right behind the walls of the church. The very place where we are supposed to be helping the hurting, we hurt them worse. Just the other day, another young woman sat down telling me her story of hurt. I see some lonely person, wishing that somebody would notice them and care. We have such a tremendous opportunity to right so very many wrongs going on today. Why not pick just one?

"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." Galatians 6:2-3 Message Version

Invitation of the Unseen Guest

My Mom and Dad Arrived Here off the Train A Couple of Days Ago!!Thankfully, The Archer Got This Wild Turkey The Same Day So We Could Have an Early Thanksgiving Feast!! Moonbeam and Friend


The other day, as "the girls" and I sat around my table sharing some rhubarb spice cake and coffee, we talked about our husbands plans for the future. One of them said "I'm just so afraid that I will get to the end of my life and find out that I missed what God had for me to do." It was a valid concern that many of us have pondered a time or two. As each friend quietly bared her soul, it became apparent that one morning of devotions couldn't resolve all the emanating issues. I proposed we set aside a couple of days for fasting and prayer..............
The days were chosen and executed as planned. Misunderstandings surfaced. Issues began to dissolve, though I didn't particularly feel anything different. Then, suddenly, that all familiar invisible guest appeared one stormy night. A gentle breeze blew through my bedroom window igniting His presence in the room. As He walked about the house, I felt reassured that Destiny would unveil itself. The unseen guest reminded me of things I'd been slacking in and sacrifices I hadn't been willing to make. Knowing how to speak to me like nobody else can, He planted a vision of the future all the while reminding me of how my present attitude would influence that plan. Though I didn't sleep much that night, I slept infinitely well, refreshed in the charged in the stormy atmosphere. As the rain poured outside and the breeze blew in, I couldn't imagine a place or time I'd rather be living in.
That next morning one of "the girls" called and we talked about how hungry she is. Though the fast is long since past, she can't seem to stop hungering and thirsting after The Unseen Guest, and for His plan to unfold in her life. I smiled, knowing He'd responded to our invitation. Things would be different now.
Have you invited the Unseen Guest into your home lately?

Deep Thoughts With Me (What You've Been Waiting For) Just Kidding

Today, as I stumbled out of the kitchen with my fresh brewed coffee, I followed my familiar routine and I headed for the door. I slipped on some shoes and disappeared ever so quietly into the fresh morning air - armed with my Bible. It had rained hard last night, which was no surprise and everything was sopping wet. Around the side of the house, I shook off my lawn chair and set an old coat down on top of it. A heavy mist hung low in the valley as I looked downward over the wooded hills and placid river.
A sense of peace transcended as I turned to 2nd Samuel. Nathan the prophet went to David telling him of an injustice done with a little lamb. In his fury, David said that the man must die and Nathan told him that the man was David himself...........
David had done some very evil things. If you remember your Bible stories, you will know that David had a good, honorable man murdered in order to cover up his adultery and keep the mans only wife, Bathsheba. She was carrying David's child. It was a terrible injustice, worthy of death.
Nathan goes on to tell David that his child born by Bathsheba will die and the child becomes sick. Despite David's fasting and prayers, the child dies. Then a funny thing happens. Bathsheba immediately becomes pregnant again. God's Mercy Prevails. That child went on to become Solomon, wisest king in the world. Because of David's sexual perversion, perversion clung to his lineage in Solomon and also Absalom. It became a generational curse. That's not the point of my story though. My point is, God was Merciful. He gave the mourning parents another child despite the terrible sin.
Many times I have wondered why I put forth the effort I do to help people who don't always deserve it. Recently, I'd been praying about it and wondering why I do what I do. Once, many years ago during my days of travel, I was working in a small town hospital. My first week or two on the job, it became apparent that nobody liked a particular newer nurse who worked there. She was an older woman who had recently gotten her nurses license. Her mannerisms were gruff and she made a lot of mistakes. She was an alcoholic. She had extremely different political views than me. Really, we had nothing in common. I owed her nothing, didn't know her well and didn't relate to her in the least bit. She had just made another significant mistake and she was on the verge of being fired. Most of the nurses were all for it. I went to the Director of Nursing and asked her not to fire her just yet. I implored her to put her on my shifts and let me try and teach her. I even told her I would take responsibility for her on my shifts. After that, when people started gossiping, I would stop the gossip. Though I was a new employee, I was a seasoned nurse and had earned respect. Soon the gossip stopped circulating, for sure around me anyway. Though the woman still made mistakes, she started trying harder. Something about the situation had changed.
Over and over, when I find myself doing these strange actions, I ask myself why I am doing them. Then, just like this morning, I find the reason all fresh and new. God is Merciful. He loves His children. Despite our evil ways, despite our sins, despite the way we mess things up, He has a plan to redeem us. When we follow His perfect plan, things go well for us. When we chose to divert from God's ways, pain and suffering surely follow. Then there is Gods Mercy and He reaches out to us once again. I suppose if I can be a small part of that process for a few, it is my privilege and not my obligation. After all, I've made my own share of mistakes.

Disembowelment of the Pizza Gremlin

Deep within the bowels of the hospital, I could hear it calling my name. It beckoned to me, whispered to me, tormented my thoughts…...... Busy with patients, I’d made the mistake of hurrying over the copy machine. There it found me. My co-worker was eating a frozen microwave pizza. The aroma was delicious, enticing, and I was pretty sure she wasn’t going to share. “Oh I want a little pizza” I said wishfully, as I made the quick copy. When I returned to my post, nothing but pizza haunted my thoughts. To make matters worse, it (the pizza) reminded me that there were other little pizzas at the vending machine in the basement cafeteria. It’s kind of like that movie “Gremlins” where one gets wet and they multiply. Whatever you do, don’t feed me after midnight, because my hips and belly turn monstrously large! Once one little pizza gets out, it’s only a matter of time before they take over the hospital and then….. the world.
I was resisting, but a little annoyance and stress set me off and I found myself telling somebody I was heading to the basement. I had to go down there anyway, and after all, it was on my way. Armed with my purse, a two way radio and some other stuff, I made my way into the depths of its bowels. It was creepy, but I tried to be brave. After my errands, I was compelled toward the cafeteria, by an unknown force. I kept thinking about how good that pizza upstairs smelled. As I neared the vending machine, I felt remorseful. I knew I’d already eaten my dinner. The word “recreational eating” flashed in my mind. I pushed the thought out, and dug into my purse finding a $5 bill. As I got closer to the vending machine, I felt more remorse. I knew I would hate myself for it later. Part of me said “I don’t care”. The other part said “yes you do.” Suddenly I knew what I had to do. I put the $5 bill in my purse and I walked away from the machine. Suddenly, I felt really really good. I’d walked away, and not let that lust rule over me anymore.
It’s kind of amusing, my dark battle with food, but it got me to thinking. The pull for something we want is real. No pizzas don’t talk or multiply like Gremlins, but “the lust of the flesh” is real in all of us. Pretty much everyone I know is directly affected by someone with an alcohol, food or drug addiction. Unfaithfulness runs rampantly, as do other deviant vices. Everybody has some crutch, and if you think you don’t then you’re probably lying to yourself. The Apostle Paul said “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” And I am often grieved, wondering if some addicts I know will ever make that decision to “step away”. I know, without a shadow of a doubt that the strength to overcome can be found in God. How to always convey that to people, well I don’t know.
The Entire Chapter of Romans 7 talks about how we are slaves to our sin and lusts. The Entire Chapter of Romans 8 tells us how we can be free.
It ends with this comfort :
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hugh?!

The other day, I had a gal over to my house. She was a real sweet lady with 3 kids. She just recently pulled them out of public school and she wanted to see how I home school. It was a fun occasion for me. I don't have a captive audience all that often, and I was determined to make the most of it. The kids helped me clean off the school shelves, clean the house and give it some semblance of order. My children called this "deceptive" on my part.
As I pulled textbooks, workbooks and notebooks off the school shelves in a flurry, I chattered on incessantly, almost forgetting to breathe. I was so excited about having the opportunity to show someone about what we do. I also gave her my latest copy of "Home School Enrichment Magazine". It always has a lot of good articles. When I had exhausted my curriculum's, teaching styles and misc "tips", I actually stopped to breathe and listen to her questions. I forced myself to be silent other than to discuss what topics she wanted to bring up. My voice was actually hoarse afterward, and I was a little bit embarrassed that I had talked so much! After 15 years of home schooling children, I had a lot to impart, and she was the first one who gave me her undivided attention!
For days afterward, I kept thinking "that was so much fun"! Not so much that sitting there at the table was fun, but more that some one listened to what I had to say for 2 1/2 hours, and actually appeared to be interested. Wow! I hope I can be that good of a listener some day! I have a hard time sitting still for 5 minutes. I am fidgeting and there is a little man across the wall preforming acrobatics to distract me.
It makes people feel valued when we listen to what they have to share. When we don't, its a personal insult saying "what you have to share really isn't worth my time". Here are some good scriptures about listening :

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,That you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand
Proverbs 8:33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;

Anyway, this week, I'm working on becoming a better listener. How about you?

The Cheesy Cheese Cake and The Real McCoys

"I will have a cheesecake" I declared emphatically as I got into the Suburban. My husband looked at me skeptically. "Have you gotten me anything for my birthday yet?" I reminded him menacingly. "Not yet" he replied in defeat as we drove over the the grocery store. I had just gotten off working my last and gizillionth shift for the stretch and it would be our last time in town before our big trip out east. We would be driving all day on my birthday and I was determined that I would be having cheesecake for my birthday cake this year.
When we got to the store, I knew already that getting myself a cheesecake for my birthday was a big mistake. The freezer section cheese cakes looked expensive and freezer burnt. We were trying to save all our money for the trip and buying a prepared cheesecake suddenly seemed like a waste of calories and money. I couldn't bring myself to buy the $10 one, already feeling the burden of guilt. Eventually, I settled on a $6 Sarah Lee job. The cheesecake already seemed eerie lurking in that cardboard box, but I willed myself over to the check out line anyway.
The night of the "party", I took the cheesy old cheesecake out of the box. It didn't feel very festive. It was still a little bit frozen on top and appeared lopsided, kind of like it was leering at me or maybe scowling. When I took my first bite, I was quite disappointed. It didn't even taste like a cheesecake. I suppose it's as much of a cheese cake as you can get for $6. The next day, I fed the rest of it to my husband and daughter.
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I wrote that for a blog post that I never made. I just didn't feel inspired to continue on, but I saved it anyway. I don't know why. Part of the journey to fitness and healthy eating for me is learning to balance a variety of foods into my diet without me say.... eating half the cheese cake. No worries on that one written about above!
So when I got to my sisters, I hadn't said (or blogged) a word about the cheesy cheesecake. My whole attitude in buying it was wrong and I knew it. Her husband, who cooks in an upscale restaurant and goes to college, made me a home made cheese cake from scratch. It was unforgettable for 2 reasons. 1. He took time out of his full time college and work schedule to make me a cheese cake. Very thoughtful. 2. Because God knew I wanted some good cheese cake and put it on somebodies heart to make me one. I am humbled on both accounts. Consequently, every bite of it was out of this world incredible.
Last night at my mother in laws, she asked me "want some cheese cake?" I almost couldn't believe it. This time it was a turtle cheese cake with chocolate and carmel in it. Call me a weirdo, but its just the kind of thing that God does to prove a point to me that He is up there and cares about me. I start out with this attitude that I'm going to have to "take care of myself" in some manner. Then I do a lousy job of it. Then a little miracle comes on the scene to remind me just how Big He is and how much better a job He can do for me when I chose to trust in Him.
One of my last favorite "little miracles" is from back when we were moving to MT. I was home schooling the kids even back then and I wanted to switch math curriculums. The Archer wasn't doing so well with Abecka and I wanted to try Saxton. I insisted to my husband that we had to buy a Saxton text book. He said "no" because we were just getting ready to move and the money was real tight. He told me to "trust God for one". I laughed and scoffed loudly and said "God is going to bring me a Saxton Math book?!" in an incredibly sarcastic and antagonistic tone. Boy was I ashamed later on. That last visit over to my moms before the move, a woman from her church came over. She brought with her a Saxton Math book and the test and quiz booklets that went with it. Honestly, it scared me and I have never taken on a sarcastic attitude toward miraculous provision again. About 6 years ago, I was also given close to the entire Saxton Math curriculum for about fourth grade through Sr. High.
Anybody else out there have any little miracles to share?

Above Photos : Cheese Cakes I have known. After all that sugar, Moonbeam gets her teeth brushed. Uhh... the kids are trying to send you a message about my age. You will not want to reverse the kids hands and figure it out!

Philbert McHottie

"Oh he's suuuuuch a hottie" said Lila in a wistful tone. "Don't you think so?" she asked. I paused for a moment, before I spoke. Not because I thought he was a hottie, but because I wondered if I should really tell her what I thought. Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to speak my mind. "Every time everybody talks about what a hottie he is, the first thing that comes to my mind is Venereal Disease. Then it totally grosses me out and I want to start gagging. I'm not saying he has a social disease, I'm just saying that's the first thing that comes to my mind." For a moment, I encountered a blank stare. "Maybe I shouldn't tell people what I am thinking." I thought to myself. Just then, Philbert McHottie strutted in. The room became strangely silent for a moment. Suddenly drool began to form on some of the girls chins. I decided that my overactive imagination wasn't so bad after all and I abruptly escaped with my mental vision of genital warts intact.
For some reason, the conversation stayed with me and I began to ponder another person I knew. Once a beautiful girl, Lizzie could turn anybodies head. She possessed incredible charisma and charm. She had a curvy youthful figure and a cute impish face. In her day, any guy would have done almost anything to go out with her and she knew it. What Lizzie carried in physical appeal, she sadly lacked in character. After time's harsh ways, she'd become an alcoholic and lost some of that physical appeal. Oh, she was pretty alright, but her magnetism had some how metabolized along with all the booze. Her heart probably looked quite a bit like her liver. I watched Lizzie flirting with someone not all that long ago and I felt really sorry for her. She'd lost her family. She'd traded motherhood for vanity, leaving her kids to fend for themselves. I didn't see a good future in sight for any of them and it grieved me hard. I began to wonder if physical beauty was more of a handicap than a help.
All this thinking is becoming taxing on my brain so I will leave you with a verse. I'm off to prepare for my fitness adventure with Dolphin Goddess...... Toodles
Proverbs 31:29-31 (New King James Version)
29 " Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all." 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Desiderata

The other day, as we made our way down the single lane drive over the mountain pass to get to town, my husband and I began reminiscing over parts of life we have lived. Just a few years ago, we were operating a growing business. Employees, subcontractors and friends filled up every day to overflowing. Business seemed to be booming and we seemed to hold an air of popularity with folks all around. It was almost as if friends came out of the woodwork. Then, when we had a few years that the company didn't do as well, the friends dissipated just like fluffy snow on an extra hot day. All that was left was mud puddles in place of friendships. We kind of snickered about the shallowness of people who we thought were really our friends. We thanked God for the lull in business because it brought us to a greater place of depth. As a young couple in our mid 20's the money had come fast, as did the friends. We had some maturing that needed to take place. Had the money stayed, we may never have discovered the arrogance that began to creep in.
As we continued, we passed "Caribou Gulch", a notorious spot where there are no guard rails and a steep drop off. There is water wayyyyyyyyy down there and some times you can see Moose and other wildlife. It is undoubtedly the scariest part of the whole trip. The snow doesn't bank well there and often there is ice on the single lane. Meeting a car or truck there is something everybody hopes doesn't happen to them.
We continued our discussion. Just this past month, we had observed relatives interacting with each other and saw something chilling. For us, we'd known the hurt of being taken advantage of by friendships with ulterior motives. For others, their own family members readily used them. Sadly, there was too much pride for the person to see it. Money and fame tends to make a person think a little too highly of themselves. That's where the treachery comes in. Full of pride, they are blind to the fact they are being taken advantage of. Sometimes its a need to feel loved or show love that causes this dysfunction. That can happen with weight loss too. I have lots of bloggie buddies now, who are excited to be seeing new bodies. Remember that your spouse was faithful to stay with you when you were much heavier next time somebody checks you out.
Consistency in friendships, family and business all need to be found. Everybody needs a degree of Independence. We must all learn to be functional outside of our parents, friends and co-workers. Taking too much is wrong as is giving too much at times. For us, shallow friendships have been replaced with deeper ones. A little bit of grey, a few wrinkles and a much healthier perspective of ourselves than there was once before. Also, we have the hope of the future. A hope that our children will grow up to be good people. Ones who don't mooch and ones who aren't leaned on in an unhealthy way. I am hoping to instill healthy eating and exercise traits in them so that they won't have to go where I've been before. There is the hope that our business will once again thrive along with the caution that we will know better how to manage money and friendships. And last, there is the patience in knowing that in time all things will happen. Character is a good thing to focus on along the way.

Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

A Conglomeration of My Thoughts and Fitness Attempts

"Maybe it doesn't happen continually to you, but every once in a while, something happens or someone says something that pushes a button inside you and throws you into a tizzy! When this occurs, do you say and do things you later regret? Do You feel sorry that you allowed the devil to get to you again? If what I just described sounds familiar, I have help for you today! In Philippians 4:7, the apostle Paul writes, "and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."" This was a small nugget of the lesson I read to my family today from "Sparkling Gems" by Rick Renner. It's a devotional/Greek word study. Every morning, I wake the children up saying "C'mon kids! It's time for Sparkling Gems!" My husband abandons his post at the computer, or stops correcting and teaching his math lessons with the children and everybody sits around the breakfast table listening. Some of us (including me) may be a bit sluggish, but we are all there. This lesson was particularly convicting (and encouraging) to me because just a few days before I had preformed a lovely hissy fit for all to observe! Perhaps you too, may be in need of some "Sparkling Gems".
Despite my motivation to get out cross country skiing these past few days, I have been foiled often. On Friday, snow clumped up on my skis and I ended up going on a lovely hike instead. On Saturday, I tried spraying silicone spray on the bottom of my skis. The snow conditions had changed though, and everything was excessively slippery. Instead of packing Moonbeam in the baby backpack, I pulled her in her sled, which was probably good because I fell down often! Add to that, I had to keep stopping because Moonbeam was not keen on sharing her sled with my stinky old hikers. She displayed her displeasure by kicking them out with her feet! I repositioned them around her sled several times and several times they ended up falling out and/or getting dragged behind. As you can see by the pictures, quite pleased with herself, she eventually napped. On Sunday, Elasta Woman's family came over for dinner. We had explored the idea of skiing together, but that didn't work out. We ended up on a hilarious hike pulling our kids along in sleds. The children had a grand old time laughing and frolicking along the way. I suppose I may not complain, because I have had a good time and gotten exercise each day, anyway. I will try again today - lol!
On one of these attempts, I found myself thinking about Moonbeam. Some of her first memories will most likely be out in the forest because she is there almost every day. What a wonderful thing for her to treasure. So many children grow up in day cares. They grow up listening to their parents fighting. They grow up being bribed by a McDonald's drive through. Eating and Exercise Habits form very young as do other life habits. Just the other day, someone told me she looked out her window and saw a little 3 year old girl playing in the snow wearing nothing but a diaper and t-shirt. Hurriedly she went out, scooping up the child and brought her to her house. The door was cracked open, so she gingerly carried the child in. There in the front room laid the caregiver passed out with a needle in her arm. Fearful, she took the child home and called 911. She was chastened by the police and told that she could be charged with kidnapping for removing the child from the property. How sad. These extremes exist every day in the lives of children growing up all around us. What will your children's first memories encompass? How about your grand children or neighborhood kids? What kind of heritage of memories can we purposefully instill in their tender little hearts?

Above Photos : Hilarious Hike with Elasta Woman and Children

Remembering AllieAnna

"A junctional escape rhythm is a relatively slow narrow-complex rhythm. The rhythm originates in the AV node, which has the intrinsic ability to initiate depolarization of the myocardium (automaticity)." As you may imagine, studying for continuing medical education can be a little dry. Of course, it is imperative that I force myself to pay attention to the material, but my mind does, well, have a tendency to wander. This time, it wandered back to my friend AllieAnna. AllieAnna was a young married mother who needed lots of encouragement. She was the kind of person who "nice people" avoided. AllieAnna lived with her husband in a one room shack with no electricity or running water. She had been in an abusive home growing up and didn't have much self-esteem. Since she hadn't experienced a lot of nurturing, she didn't know how to nurture herself.

A car seat wasn't even an option for her kids. They were just lucky to get to ride in the cab of their grandparents truck, where they hid on the floor. The rest of the family rode in the back all year long. AllieAnna's kids came to church half the time without jackets and her babies always had bare feet. It didn't matter how many times I or anybody else gave her socks or jackets for them, she just couldn't seem to keep them dressed right. Sometimes, I'd invite her over, dress her kids in my kids outgrown clothes. We'd wash their grubby little faces, help her give them baths and try to show by example how to be a better mom. It seemed like she was doing better, though she was always judged by the people around town and even some in church. Usually they made nasty comments to her which really didn't help the situation at all.

When AllieAnna's kids got sick with vomiting and diarrhea, she relayed the story to me later on that the nurse told her to just give them pedialyte and nothing else. AllieAnna didn't have the sense to feed them anything else again until she brought them back to the hospital very weak almost a week later.

After we'd moved from the area, we had them come and visit for a few days. I had just bought a week or two's worth of groceries. Every day I would make 3 meals and treats. Every night, AllieAnna would raid the refrigerator. I'd plan a meal for the next day and in the morning, the ingredients would be consumed. After a couple of days, AllieAnna was sick from gorging and was miserable with vomiting and diarrhea. She also had consumed numerous cans of soda. At meal times, she put huge piles of food at her children's places, more than they could possibly eat. Then she'd yell and slap them for not eating much. Then she'd eat their left overs. She did bizarre things like that, and it was hard to know how to intervene. Another time she gave one of her kids a cold shower when she was mad. Even when I told her to take her shoes off inside, I would have to tell her each time she came in and went out. I was pretty exhausted by the time they left and I had to go get groceries again. That next week, AllieAnna brought me two twelve packs of soda. She used her food stamps to buy them. She'd felt convicted and wanted to make things better.

Though AllieAnna did do bizarre and even somewhat abusive things to her kids, I always felt like there was hope. I never quit trying. The church in that city was undergoing a lot of transition during that time. Unfortunately, there were some strange words being spoken about people. After a while, it wasn't healthy to keep taking our kids there. Despite that change, we kept contact with AllieAnna. We were the ones she called when she started having thoughts about hurting her kids. We spent a lot of time counseling her and praying for her. Social Services also investigated.

Despite what you may be thinking, AllieAnna really does love her children. She asked for prayer many many times. She listened when I gave her advice. She tried to change, though it seemed painfully slow. Despite my frustrations, AllieAnna did make positive changes many times when I and others encouraged her.

Over a period of time, we lost contact with AllieAnna. Things didn't get better for her. They got worse. Her husband eventually succumbed in his fight against drugs and alcohol. There was perversion in thier marriage and they divorced. She moved out of state. I heard a lot more sad reports, but I don't want to publish them. I think I've said enough.

I'm not even sure if I'll keep this post up. I don't like saying anything negative about anybody. For sure, I don't like gossip. I do, however, believe in the power of people to change things. We are Jesus hands and feet here on earth. That song "Hands and Feet" by Audio Adrenaline continues to convict me. I wish I'd done more for AllieAnna while I had the chance. To be honest, it was hard. Her behavior was often times inappropriate. Her children were busy. Odors and messes were involved. Things people don't want to deal with.

Most people would like to point to social services. They're an easy finger to point at. What about you and me? What about our ability to change the world? Can a remedial "parenting class" really compare to what we can do? AllieAnna's temporary outcome didn't turn out like I'd hoped, but there are so many others out there. I just feel like there is somebody reading this who can make a difference in some one elses life. There are neglected kids all over. Maybe they're not in one room cabins playing in chicken dung, but they are there none the less. Kids whose parents are gone at work day in and day out, kids who are falling through the cracks of society. These are the children who will be adults when we are old. These are the children who may later help you cross the street, or mug you in a dark alley. These kids need intervention, and the state isn't the answer. It's you. Tonight, say a prayer for AllieAnna and her children. Then ask God how you can make a difference.

Luke 18:15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Above photos include : On the way home from shopping in the big city. Biggest and Littlest brothers playing "memory matching game" while Sock Fashion Expert studiously does her Algebra. Moonbeam under the tree. Our Family Checkers Championship.

Predatory Instinct

Not far from my house a small mountain lion hovers over it's new found food source. Somebody, (most likely not one of our locals), shot a buck and cut his head off leaving the body to rot. The body was left just at the end of our drive about a mile away. Its a place I hike almost daily. The young lion found it, and figuring it for some easy meals, drug it to another spot close by, partially burying it. Each day, my son checks the lions progress. Each day, the carcass is moved just a little and more of it has been eaten. Ravens have begun to eat what parts of the deer the lion didn't get buried well enough. It's slowly being consumed, but exists as a hazard and danger to us who live here. For now, the young lion lingers nearby. Every day, my son reminds me to be careful as I'm out hiking.

Just a year or two back, somebody shot another buck just behind our house a ways. They didn't even bother to take the antlers on that one, let alone the meat. A mother grizzly sow and 2 cubs fed on that one. Knowing they were back there was quite disturbing to me. Again, it was a potential danger to us who live here. Thoughtless, selfish acts of others unknowingly bring an element of danger to our small subdivision without them even realizing it. Predators smell the blood, they find the spoils and they become opportunists.

It occurred to me that spiritual predators act in much the same way. Some times we leave a bleeding mess some place in our life and inadvertently lure them in. Oh, we don't mean to be, but we're careless. We don't try to fix or clean it up. We just leave it there and it attracts the wrong kind of attention.
Anybody whose been reading my blog for a while, has found that Outdoor Mom always finds herself in some kind of crazy scenario! She enjoys high spirited adventures, but ends up fumbling her way along in it. She almost always something embarrassing! Its fun to laugh about, but usually at the time, it's mortifying! For instance, one time years ago, I found myself working in a small rural hospital many states away. On that particular night (probably the only one ever), I happened to be the person with the most experience. The other doctor and nurse I was working with were fresh out of school. Neither of them had ever done a particular procedure, and it was necessary to stabilize the patient. I really didn't have much experience myself in the procedure, but it didn't matter. I needed to be confident and do my best. During this intensive time, somebody pointed out that I was sporting a large piece of tape stuck to - yes, you guessed it, my derriere!! It was terrible! Here I was trying to be confident for everybody else, struggling to make my way through the procedure and a loud assistant had announced this fact and then proceeded to pull it off. It totally broke my concentration. My face turned red. I was just sure everybody was thinking "this lady is a total loser!" Thankfully, I managed to pull myself together and get the job done. Sometimes when others aren't confident about themselves, they try to deflect this by making somebody else look incompetent! Not to say that this person was doing that, but it happens. Anyway, when we project ourselves as not being confident, we attract that kind of attention. The first embarrassing moment that comes along, confirms that we are, indeed incompetent to do the job! Voices inside our head wag along with some on the outside! Soon we shrink back from opportunities that are God ordained. Having been the queen of many embarrassing scenarios, I know it's never easy to regain confidence in ones self during those times. Problem is, that's just the time the predator finds you and tries to devour. Its the time when you most need to reach into yourself and find truth resident. The truth is, it's really never about yourself. It's about others. If our focus is on them (and not ourselves), that truth will prevail.
Here's a good scripture to remind us all how to resist spiritual predators :-) It's a good truth to guard within us......................
Hebrews 10 :35 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise"
Till next time, guard your hearts and keep watch for predators ;-)

What's With The Wafer?!

Today as the communion bread wafer plate was passed around the church I grimaced. We have the most terrible tasting communion wafers I've ever partaken of! I determined to find an extra small chunk. As the plate was passed, I reached for a smallish looking one. It was one of those "iceberg" communion wafer chunks and the top was smaller than the bottom. This created a nauseating dilemma. Hurling would be out of the question. What to do? Hmm..... I reached far. Well, I decided since Jesus "broke the bread", it would be ok for me to do this too. I looked for a hiding spot for the larger part of my "broken" bread desperately. Suddenly I heard heavenly music and a light illuminated around my son, Super Catman's pants leg pocket. He was focused on his piece of wafer with a frown. Would I stoop so low? My window of opportunity was beginning to close and I hurriedly (but slyly) stuffed the wafer piece into his side pocket. He never noticed, not one bit. Sock Fashion Expert gave me a quizzical glance. She suspected foul wafer play, but couldn't prove a thing.
Since I was thinking extra hard during communion today, I decided to share a little about the custom.


Mark 14: 22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Back in Biblical days, when you made a "covenant" with a person, you sealed that covenant in the blood of an animal. In fact, I have been told that the slaughter of the animal was a part of the covenant process. In essence, Jesus was saying that His blood would replace the animals blood in this new covenant that He was making with mankind. As we all are aware, Jesus allowed Himself to go to the cross to pay for the sins of mankind. By taking communion, we keep in remembrance this sacrifice that Jesus made for mankind.

Taking communion is powerful because :

1. Jesus told us to do it. There's gotta be something said for honoring The Son of God's request.

2. We are once again reminded of the price He paid for us.

3. We are physically demonstrating what God did for us in an act of faith.

If you made a covenant with a person (such as in the act of marriage), you would commit to that person for the rest of your given days. Your strengths would benefit each other and you would share one another's burdens and weaknesses. You'd "have their back". In Old Testament times, their enemies would become your enemies and you would be required to fight for and with them if need be. When we make a covenant with God, we are giving Him both our strengths and our weaknesses. We exchange our best for His. This doesn't just mean that He provided a way for us in the here after. It means that what ever your facing today, He's got your back in a way only The God of the Universe could.

Every time I've ever experienced extreme challenges in my life - physical, financial, emotional or spiritual, I've taken communion as an act of faith in my covenant with God of the Universe. Every time, it's been marked by some kind of supernatural occurrence thereafter. I can't explain it much better than to promise you it works. God always has my back and I bet He'd like to have yours too. Why not take communion today in faith over whatever you are facing? Use a stale cracker and some soda or whatever you have around. The important part is that you put your trust in Him.

Super Catman and His Faithful Steed

I've never been impressed with our ugly blue couch. In fact, most times I enter my living room, I scowl silently, as it is truly an eye sore. When company comes over, I am secretly a little bit embarrassed of it. I have long looked for another one to replace it, but buying a new one seems a little bit out of reach. Replacing my old couch with somebody else's old couch seems rather dismal and so I am at a stale mate with no end in sight.
Not long ago, our 7 year old, Super Catman, decided that the couch cushion was his faithful steed. He began roping it, mounting it and galloping it around the house. When he eats, he ties up the couch cushion steed at the table. At night, the cushion is tied to his bed frame. I have never seen any child derive so much pleasure out of an old couch cushion. Due to his heartfelt devotion to his cushion steed, I have consciously decided to no longer abhor that couch. Rather, I am relieved that I didn't spend money on a nice one. I would never have let him gallop around on a new couch cushion. I guess life's lessons are somewhat a matter of perspective.

Hebrews 13:5 (Amplified Bible)
5Let your [a]character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] [b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor [c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [e]let [you] down ([f]relax My hold on you)! [[g]Assuredly not!](A)

What Is A Christian?

What is a Christian?

Carl was a quiet man. He worked hard all his life. He took good care of his family and kept to himself. Over the course of his life, he shied away from church. He said "it just wasn't for him". After drinking a beer one day in his basement, he bowed his head and acknowledged the Gift of God. Something supernatural happened and he started to slowly change, though he didn't mention it to anybody for quite some time.

Tina was a lonely wife. She felt isolated from her husband all too often. Though she knew God, she flirted with unhealthy relationships. Over time she began pursuing men in an unhealthy way and destroyed much of the peace in her family. After a while, she was too ashamed to go to church. She felt judged, but also used it as an excuse to fulfill her wrongful cravings. Her emotions often ruled her actions in an unhealthy manner. One day, she prayed, cried and asked God to forgive her. The next, she found herself with other men.

John received Jesus as a teenager. He was excited about church and evangelism for a time. As his high school years passed on, events caused him to begin hanging with the wrong crowd. A youthful spirit and the pride of life deceived him into pursuing that which looked appealing, but it's end, destruction. As more years passed he found himself addicted to alcohol and drugs. He still sensed God's presence, but he couldn't bring himself to shake his habits. They clung to him like a noose around his neck. Though he never quit believing, he felt too condemned to spend much time with people who he knew to be Believers.

Haily experienced an incredible experience. A leader in her ring of prostitutes, some one came and told her about Jesus. The encounter shook her very being and she prayed right there to receive Him. Excited, she told all her friends and associates. When she arrived at church that week, tears streaked down her face. She was so excited to be a part of something real. She found a seat right at the front of the church. She was ready to learn. That's when people around her began to whisper and stare. She swallowed with some apprehension, but having child like faith, she held her position, head up. Then an usher approached her piously. "You may not worship with us dressed in that attire. Please go home and change." Someone snickered. All eyes were on her. Suddenly the riveting love she had been high on seemed to dissipate. She felt the all familiar judgement and her old cynical nature told her she was a "sucker". "I'm never coming back here again" she whispered, almost blinded by the tears as she ran out the doors.


Gordon was a baby shaken at birth, though no one knew it. As he grew, it became apparent he would never function on his own. Despite his limited understanding, he could tie his shoes, count to five and preform very simple tasks. He lived in a group home until he suffered a stroke. After that, he lived in a nursing home. By then, he was even more a prisoner of his own body. He had to be fed, turned, changed and bathed. People had to dress him and lift him into a wheel chair where he stared blankly at the television much of the day. One day, as a nurse passed by, he felt the Presence of God. Though he couldn't express it, he felt something when she was around. She sometimes sang songs and when she did, he seemed to comprehend much more than he had before. With all that was within him, he reached for that supernatural force of love he sensed. One day she prayed for him and he felt something so wonderful happen. Despite the fact he was a prisoner in his own body, there was a friend there with him. He lived that last week much more peacefully.

Linda was a very religious woman. She was raised in church and attended the same congregation all her life. She always tithed and gave offerings. She had the pastor over monthly for Sunday dinner. Her husband was well known in the community and he served on the church board. Yes, Linda lived quite properly and looked down upon those outside her congregation. Linda was the first to spot Haily. She made it her business, to bring it to the attention of the usher that morning. She saw John one day in the grocery market buying beer. She recognized him. She approached him haughtily and with mock concern, pried for information which she later relayed to all her friends "to pray about". She also drove Tina away from the few women who tried to reach out to her. They were from another congregation she didn't approve of. Through manipulation and deceit she saw to it those women would not be recruiting Tina into their group. She also had a lot to say about John, though he was smart enough never to darken the doors of her church.

What Is A Christian?

Obedience and My Daughter is Theodore Roosevelt

This morning, I leaped out of bed and hurdled my way into the kitchen. It was our girls devotional group today, and I wanted to get school done with the kids. I multi-tasked cutting up vegetables on the counter as Moonbeam splashed happily in her bath water in the kitchen sink. Eyeing the clock, I continued to multitask my way through the morning.
As I sat down with my morning coffee, I encouraged Super Catman to start reading, pronto. I listen to Super Catman read to me every school day. To me, reading is the most critical skill a child can learn at this age and I almost never miss. As I savored my brew, I experienced a short lived bit of tranquility. Super Catman began flicking his his book, consequently creating a loud thumping sound. "Stop that" I said gently holding his hand away from the pages. Defiance on his impish little face surfaced and he began flicking it with the other hand. Time stopped. Then I encouraged him to keep on reading, not wanting to take the time to deal with the little act of disobedience that had surfaced itself. As he continued to read, I began to feel more and more convicted. By the end of the page, I knew that I needed to call him on the flicking. I looked at the clock. Then I ignored it. We talked about disobedience. I gave him a choice of discipline. He chose a day without "Tom and Jerry", his favorite cartoon. We went on to read his devotional together. I was surprised to see it contained this Bible verse :
"Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it's the right thing to do."
I realized that I had done the right thing.
After I had carried all my stuff out to the car I decided to stop and pray. I hadn't made time for that. It's a little silly to be running off to a devotional group and not have spent any time in prayer. The verse I had read with Super Catman weighed heavily on my heart. I decided to share it.
Later on that day, with the gals, I started by sharing about how little acts of disobedience lead to bigger ones. Children who don't learn to obey sooner suffer many hardships now and later on in life. I read the verse Super Catman and I had read together. Then I read a chapter from a devotional that we've been reading. I was shocked to find that the Bible verse we would read was this one!
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
I was pretty sure we were on to something that God wanted us to hear. As we discussed our prayer requests, one of my friends shared that she was feeling a little distanced in her relationship with God. She hadn't made time to pray or read her Bible regularly. She was feeling kind of down. She felt frustrated wanting to hear God more. I encouraged her to take time each day to pray and read her Bible as an act of faith. It could be thought of as a little act of obedience. Each day when I pray and spend time in my Bible, I get direction for the day. Sometimes the direction feels insignificant, but I'm always glad when I follow it. Other times in my life, I've felt God speaking big things to me. Since I try hard to follow the little things, I'm fairly sure when I hear Him with the big ones. Cultivating the ability to hear and obey has saved me from a world of grief and also opened up incredible blessings. Of course this is a process and I'm always learning.
Then it all became clear. Teaching kids to be obedient in little things is very important. Some day, when you yell out to them to "stop"! You might be saving them from getting hit by a car or from running headlong into some other kind of danger. The word "stop" in itself doesn't mean much, especially if it isn't usually enforced. However, if kids know that there are consequences for not obeying, they will "stop". Obeying God in the little things also teaches us to stop, when there is danger ahead. We are, after all, His children.

Here's Nurse Happy Sunny Day's Suggestion in action : The kids research historical characters and act them out. They dress like them and say famous quotes. The parents have to guess who they are. Its a great way to learn in an alternative way. Can you guess what characters the kids are? Art dog is Daniel Boone. Sock Fashion Expert is Theodore Roosevelt. Super Catman..... well, he just wanted to get in on all the fun.

Fun with "Popeye and Granny"

We have a lot to be thankful for. Here we are in the season of the harvest. Fruit and vegetables are in bountiful supply. With a little bit of labor, much can be preserved for winter. Hunting season is also upon us and the fresh fallen snow makes tracking easier. Just a few days ago, Art Dog got his first bear. I will have to put a photo up on one of the next posts. Also, my in laws have made their yearly visit here. Its been an enjoyable time. They love spending time with our kids and our kids love spending time with them. Time is the best gift they could ever give. Its a precious commodity, and there is no other way to truly impart the legacy of oneself into future generations.
We started out the visit with a trip to the big city, which I have blogged about below. Since then, we've taken many hikes together, enjoyed lots of good food and done a variety of other activities. The past few evenings, the kids have played "pitch" with them long after I couldn't keep my eyes open. Today, they went into a near by town to visit with their youngest son.
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Being grateful is very important. It's a tool which helps define our position in this life. Jealousy, discontentment and eyes that lust for more also help to define who we are. We can build a strong tower and enforce it supernaturally, or we can tear down its very existence along with everything around it. Much of who we become, what we possess and how we possess it lie in these seemingly insignificant principles. In short, attitudes that seem insignificant today, will redirect the course of our lives tomorrow and even this afternoon. Thankfulness is one of the most powerful tools you can possibly arm yourself with.


Colossians 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.