Monday, July 31, 2017
Monday, July 24, 2017
Friday, July 21, 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Good Stories
I don't have much of a story. (I still write.)
I am a simple midwestern housewife with five kids and one grandson. I'm an army mom, formerly an army wife, (still a wife!) formerly a missionary to Germany (church planting/Muslim ministry). I'm a teacher.
I grew up in the house next door to Corgi Hollows.
I've lived in Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, (briefly) Colorado, Texas, and Germany---besides Minnesota. I've been to Turkey and Israel, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia, England, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland.
When I travel I like to stay places, not rush around. I like to feel the culture.
I'm an artist, musician, and writer. I'm not very good at any of these arts, but I DO them, and I make stuff, and I take the time to write, to articulate. Many could do so far better than I do, but I do it, at least.
But my story is pretty dull. You just read it.
I became a follower of Jesus when I was four years old at special meetings held each summer in this area. Several evangelical churches banded together to support an evangelist's guest appearance at these meetings. Eight nights of singing and preaching, children's meetings, hanging out with all the Christian folk in the area.
I have good memories of that. I made my decision to ask Jesus into my heart as a child, responded to the invitation to pray with a teacher at a little kidney-shaped table my kindergarten size.
I remember it. I prayed with Carol Mooney, who has since gone to be with Jesus.
That's not much of a story, is it?
But that prayer was truly meant, truly life-changing, truly real. I had other epic moments (for me) that propelled my spiritual life onward, but I can't see much of an epic theme. Normal conversion is really all I can summarize my spiritual walk as. Normal, dull, boring. Not special.
But it is my story, and I believe I would have been a completely lost basket case had I not met Jesus quite young.
I read people's testimonies with great interest.
Other people do have good stories. I really love to read the ones about atheists who become Christians. I like to ferret out the moments that convinced them there was a Creator, and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is that Creator.
I like to read about people who were sucked into spiritualist lifestyles, New Age, Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, Satanism, Superstition--the Occult. Then they come to Jesus in a lightning blast of knowing and love! Incredible, I love it! I am thrilled with their transformation.
Johanna Michaelson, Steven Bancarz, Mario--the Vigilant Christian, Nabeel Qureshi, just to name a few.
These are the people I listen to. Their stories are amazing, but they have so much to say. They recognize evil in a way I never could. I watch with interest where their genuine faith in Jesus takes them. They are far more spiritually minded than many of the "Christians" I've known personally for most of my life.
Mental illness doesn't scare me anymore. Perhaps it should. The reality of it is ominous, but Jesus is so much greater than mental illness. I recognize it in some of these testimonies, but the presence of God in these lives makes the miraculous spiritual genesis for each of them all the more amazing.
I love these people!
I learn so much from them. If they recognize something evil I perk up my ears. Maybe there is something I need to be aware of. Maybe they are helpfully trying to warn us!
Too many people in the church pews are lulled into a complacency about their walk with Jesus. Reading the Bible happens once in awhile, church most Sundays, ---porn, violence, and evil themes (movies they watch in the theater and on TV ) are just making up the rest of their free time.
So what? Everyone does it. Barely anyone researches roots and origins of Hollywood (Did you know that Hollywood is the wood witches' brooms were traditionally made of??) and other societal mainstays? It's too much work!
But enter those who have gone the path of darkness. They all seem to be completely enamoured of the dark side, even for a time, sometimes for years. God intervenes and everything changes. These former workers of evil are completely and wholly different, changed, free.
Powerful testimonies.
I would urge you to read a few. Go onto YouTube and watch several people tell their amazing stories.
And then question yourself, your story, your ideas. You may need to ask God to revamp your own life.
Most of us do.
I am a simple midwestern housewife with five kids and one grandson. I'm an army mom, formerly an army wife, (still a wife!) formerly a missionary to Germany (church planting/Muslim ministry). I'm a teacher.
I grew up in the house next door to Corgi Hollows.
I've lived in Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, (briefly) Colorado, Texas, and Germany---besides Minnesota. I've been to Turkey and Israel, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia, England, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland.
When I travel I like to stay places, not rush around. I like to feel the culture.
I'm an artist, musician, and writer. I'm not very good at any of these arts, but I DO them, and I make stuff, and I take the time to write, to articulate. Many could do so far better than I do, but I do it, at least.
But my story is pretty dull. You just read it.
I became a follower of Jesus when I was four years old at special meetings held each summer in this area. Several evangelical churches banded together to support an evangelist's guest appearance at these meetings. Eight nights of singing and preaching, children's meetings, hanging out with all the Christian folk in the area.
I have good memories of that. I made my decision to ask Jesus into my heart as a child, responded to the invitation to pray with a teacher at a little kidney-shaped table my kindergarten size.
I remember it. I prayed with Carol Mooney, who has since gone to be with Jesus.
That's not much of a story, is it?
But that prayer was truly meant, truly life-changing, truly real. I had other epic moments (for me) that propelled my spiritual life onward, but I can't see much of an epic theme. Normal conversion is really all I can summarize my spiritual walk as. Normal, dull, boring. Not special.
But it is my story, and I believe I would have been a completely lost basket case had I not met Jesus quite young.
I read people's testimonies with great interest.
Other people do have good stories. I really love to read the ones about atheists who become Christians. I like to ferret out the moments that convinced them there was a Creator, and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is that Creator.
I like to read about people who were sucked into spiritualist lifestyles, New Age, Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, Satanism, Superstition--the Occult. Then they come to Jesus in a lightning blast of knowing and love! Incredible, I love it! I am thrilled with their transformation.
Johanna Michaelson, Steven Bancarz, Mario--the Vigilant Christian, Nabeel Qureshi, just to name a few.
These are the people I listen to. Their stories are amazing, but they have so much to say. They recognize evil in a way I never could. I watch with interest where their genuine faith in Jesus takes them. They are far more spiritually minded than many of the "Christians" I've known personally for most of my life.
Mental illness doesn't scare me anymore. Perhaps it should. The reality of it is ominous, but Jesus is so much greater than mental illness. I recognize it in some of these testimonies, but the presence of God in these lives makes the miraculous spiritual genesis for each of them all the more amazing.
I love these people!
I learn so much from them. If they recognize something evil I perk up my ears. Maybe there is something I need to be aware of. Maybe they are helpfully trying to warn us!
Too many people in the church pews are lulled into a complacency about their walk with Jesus. Reading the Bible happens once in awhile, church most Sundays, ---porn, violence, and evil themes (movies they watch in the theater and on TV ) are just making up the rest of their free time.
So what? Everyone does it. Barely anyone researches roots and origins of Hollywood (Did you know that Hollywood is the wood witches' brooms were traditionally made of??) and other societal mainstays? It's too much work!
But enter those who have gone the path of darkness. They all seem to be completely enamoured of the dark side, even for a time, sometimes for years. God intervenes and everything changes. These former workers of evil are completely and wholly different, changed, free.
Powerful testimonies.
I would urge you to read a few. Go onto YouTube and watch several people tell their amazing stories.
And then question yourself, your story, your ideas. You may need to ask God to revamp your own life.
Most of us do.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Sunday Night Activity
As you know, Corgi Hollows hosts a prophecy study on two Sunday nights each month, the second and the fourth. I have jail ministry on the first Sunday night at the Sherburne County Jail, with Pilot Outreach. There is one free Sunday night for me each month, and I attended Jan Markell's Prophecy Study in St. Louis Park last night.
I had no idea what the topic would be. I just showed up at 6 pm, the study starts at 6:30.
I chatted with the woman seated next to me.
"Michele Bachmann is speaking tonight," she said.
I was glad I was there! I wished I could call several of my friends to get there quickly! It was too late. There was a packed house, no seats available.
So what did I hear?
Amazing stuff. Reassuring stuff. Remarkable stuff.
Michele was with Donald Trump last Monday. She was in the group of "spiritual advisors" that met with him that day and prayed for him in the oval office.
So what's the inside scoop?
Here's the Dish:
-Donald Trump is a believer, a patriot, pro-American, pro-Israel. He's an energetic, funny, strong personality. He's been considering the presidency for 30 years. The time was right, and he won. He is destroying the Clinton machine. He is pro-life, pro Christian refugee, anti Islam. He is getting an unheard of amount of work done, cleaning up the VA (You wouldn't believe the stories!!) and he could care less about the media and liberals in general.
-He has 13 born again believers on his staff, more than any administration has had in the past decades.
-He is a nationalist, anti-globalist. He's an American, raised Presbyterian, now adheres to a "Word of Faith" doctrine. Paula White is his main spiritual advisor, and has been for 16 years.
(Major doctrinal issues with this for me!---but it's in the Christian/believer camp.)
-He watches Christian TV, and he has been advised to listen to GODLY ADVICE over and over. He seems to agree with that. Whatever his sordid reputation it appears he has had a conversion experience. He still flies with the big boys. He's conquered three major industries: real estate, entertainment, and politics (which is, as you will see, an industry of sorts).
-There are only about five believers in the Republican party. The majority is being paid off by several large health insurance companies who want to monopolize the healthcare industry through Obamacare.
-Obamacare is about to crash
-Mike Pence is a believer. Michele asserted that he has an audience of one----the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! He asserts that Donald Trump is a believer. Can we trust believers? They answer to God.
-Several evangelical leaders have prayed with Trump, including Robert Jeffress and Franklin Graham. These individuals have all shared the Gospel with him.
-81% of evangelical voters voted for Trump. That's virtual unanimity. Although evangelicals are too small a group to elect a president, they are a significant block of voters. They won the election for Trump.
-Donald Trump is not a globalist. The country has been run by Harvard, Yale, and Goldman Sachs for decades. ( I would add Jesuit-schooled individuals and the Rothschilds/Rockefellers. ) Donald Trump is a refreshing change.
-Trump is hated. Hated. Hated by the media, and liberals in general.
-Islam is a religion of world domination. Everyone knows the nice Muslim neighbor who loves peace. Islam is not peaceful. It has sought to dominate the world, and right now Europe is about to capitulate to Islam. Islam tried to take Europe centuries ago---and the Islamic forces were stopped at the gates of Vienna---but now Europe has opened wide to hundreds of thousands of Islamic immigrants.
Islam has always had as its objective to crush Christianity and western civilization. Islam is succeeding.
-Crushing Christianity is the main objective of globalists, and Islam is the force being used to do it. There are no more Jews in the middle east, except Israel, and Christians are fast being wiped out too. Also in north Africa, the coptic church during the Obama administration underwent severe persecution. Yazidis in Syria have been tortured and almost annihilated. This is Islam's objective. Domination.
-Russia. There is absolutely nothing to the "Russia" story of the past months involving anything to do with Trump. The real Russia story is Hillary Clinton's selling of 20% of the US uranium deposits to RUSSIA during her time at the State Department. Where does this uranium go? Russia and Iran have a new alliance and this gets sold to Iran with the Trillion Dollars that Obama gave to Iran.
That is a Russia story.
The Iranian leaders have vowed to destroy Israel within 25 years. They are enriching their nuclear weapons program quietly and quickly with all that cash Obama gave them.
-US Israeli embassy: it looks really positive for it to be moved to Jerusalem. Really positive. Don't listen to the secular/liberal media regarding this story. This is in the works.
There was so much covered last night. As a Bible Believer I could not HELP but be excited by Michele's report. She is incredibly articulate and asks all the right questions to the people that have real influence these days; Trump, Kushner, Netanyahu. She is friends with Mike Pence, and other believers in the US government. She's a beautiful woman with incredible knowledge and influence.
And liberals viscerally hate her.
What is it about Bible believers that turns non-believer's stomachs? Faith is a gift from God, a spiritual veil lifted from spiritually blind eyes. Faith is incomprehensible to the non-believer. We are literally of two different worlds.
God is giving this world one last chance (I believe) against the Luciferian elite. Donald Trump is president, and his time in office is a pause, a cog, in the globalist onslaught predicted in the book of Revelation.
God's word always comes true. Always. It's happening now.
Jan showed a cover of the Economist which depicted a phoenix rising out of a pile of currency burning. The title article was about a ONE WORLD CURRENCY.
Bible prophecy fulfilled. Jan said that if this is the headline today, we can be assured that Jesus will come for his own even before the headlines come to fruition.
We're on our way, dearly beloved!
MARANATHA!!!!
I had no idea what the topic would be. I just showed up at 6 pm, the study starts at 6:30.
I chatted with the woman seated next to me.
"Michele Bachmann is speaking tonight," she said.
I was glad I was there! I wished I could call several of my friends to get there quickly! It was too late. There was a packed house, no seats available.
So what did I hear?
Amazing stuff. Reassuring stuff. Remarkable stuff.
Michele was with Donald Trump last Monday. She was in the group of "spiritual advisors" that met with him that day and prayed for him in the oval office.
So what's the inside scoop?
Here's the Dish:
-Donald Trump is a believer, a patriot, pro-American, pro-Israel. He's an energetic, funny, strong personality. He's been considering the presidency for 30 years. The time was right, and he won. He is destroying the Clinton machine. He is pro-life, pro Christian refugee, anti Islam. He is getting an unheard of amount of work done, cleaning up the VA (You wouldn't believe the stories!!) and he could care less about the media and liberals in general.
-He has 13 born again believers on his staff, more than any administration has had in the past decades.
-He is a nationalist, anti-globalist. He's an American, raised Presbyterian, now adheres to a "Word of Faith" doctrine. Paula White is his main spiritual advisor, and has been for 16 years.
(Major doctrinal issues with this for me!---but it's in the Christian/believer camp.)
-He watches Christian TV, and he has been advised to listen to GODLY ADVICE over and over. He seems to agree with that. Whatever his sordid reputation it appears he has had a conversion experience. He still flies with the big boys. He's conquered three major industries: real estate, entertainment, and politics (which is, as you will see, an industry of sorts).
-There are only about five believers in the Republican party. The majority is being paid off by several large health insurance companies who want to monopolize the healthcare industry through Obamacare.
-Obamacare is about to crash
-Mike Pence is a believer. Michele asserted that he has an audience of one----the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! He asserts that Donald Trump is a believer. Can we trust believers? They answer to God.
-Several evangelical leaders have prayed with Trump, including Robert Jeffress and Franklin Graham. These individuals have all shared the Gospel with him.
-81% of evangelical voters voted for Trump. That's virtual unanimity. Although evangelicals are too small a group to elect a president, they are a significant block of voters. They won the election for Trump.
-Donald Trump is not a globalist. The country has been run by Harvard, Yale, and Goldman Sachs for decades. ( I would add Jesuit-schooled individuals and the Rothschilds/Rockefellers. ) Donald Trump is a refreshing change.
-Trump is hated. Hated. Hated by the media, and liberals in general.
-Islam is a religion of world domination. Everyone knows the nice Muslim neighbor who loves peace. Islam is not peaceful. It has sought to dominate the world, and right now Europe is about to capitulate to Islam. Islam tried to take Europe centuries ago---and the Islamic forces were stopped at the gates of Vienna---but now Europe has opened wide to hundreds of thousands of Islamic immigrants.
Islam has always had as its objective to crush Christianity and western civilization. Islam is succeeding.
-Crushing Christianity is the main objective of globalists, and Islam is the force being used to do it. There are no more Jews in the middle east, except Israel, and Christians are fast being wiped out too. Also in north Africa, the coptic church during the Obama administration underwent severe persecution. Yazidis in Syria have been tortured and almost annihilated. This is Islam's objective. Domination.
-Russia. There is absolutely nothing to the "Russia" story of the past months involving anything to do with Trump. The real Russia story is Hillary Clinton's selling of 20% of the US uranium deposits to RUSSIA during her time at the State Department. Where does this uranium go? Russia and Iran have a new alliance and this gets sold to Iran with the Trillion Dollars that Obama gave to Iran.
That is a Russia story.
The Iranian leaders have vowed to destroy Israel within 25 years. They are enriching their nuclear weapons program quietly and quickly with all that cash Obama gave them.
-US Israeli embassy: it looks really positive for it to be moved to Jerusalem. Really positive. Don't listen to the secular/liberal media regarding this story. This is in the works.
There was so much covered last night. As a Bible Believer I could not HELP but be excited by Michele's report. She is incredibly articulate and asks all the right questions to the people that have real influence these days; Trump, Kushner, Netanyahu. She is friends with Mike Pence, and other believers in the US government. She's a beautiful woman with incredible knowledge and influence.
And liberals viscerally hate her.
What is it about Bible believers that turns non-believer's stomachs? Faith is a gift from God, a spiritual veil lifted from spiritually blind eyes. Faith is incomprehensible to the non-believer. We are literally of two different worlds.
God is giving this world one last chance (I believe) against the Luciferian elite. Donald Trump is president, and his time in office is a pause, a cog, in the globalist onslaught predicted in the book of Revelation.
God's word always comes true. Always. It's happening now.
Jan showed a cover of the Economist which depicted a phoenix rising out of a pile of currency burning. The title article was about a ONE WORLD CURRENCY.
Bible prophecy fulfilled. Jan said that if this is the headline today, we can be assured that Jesus will come for his own even before the headlines come to fruition.
We're on our way, dearly beloved!
MARANATHA!!!!
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Sensing the Change
I'm not sure when it happened, but yesterday I was feeling the change. There was a slight dankness in the wind, and the smell was faintly of rot.
I'm speaking figuratively, of course.
Sheep are separating from goats, and we are in full swing.
Are you ready?
These Days have been prophesied. WE GET TO WITNESS THEM!
The Jesuit plot to undermine the Reformation is in full swing. It didn't die with the Inquisition. Jesuits are alive and well, have been, and are promoting their socialist agendas worldwide. The undercutting of the Bible is at the core of their purpose.
Here are some things my spirit sensed as monumental this week in particular:
The Eugene Peterson revelation: Whether or not he believes homosexual marriage is fine, really, that he in his doddering age could be so obtuse about such a subject even briefly is revealing, and concerning.
His Message has infinite problems.
The James White debacle: This esteemed professor came out with the statement that he considers a known Islamic terrorist his "mentor." Please, people. This is lunacy.
The growing acceptance of "trans," "queer," "gay," ----It is IN OUR FACES everywhere. Sin is simply sin. These folk need lots of love. That isn't the question. Accepting sin as normal is never going to work, but it's becoming the norm.
The Trump Administration has trouble shaking its liberal critics and all the dirty politics and fallen humanness of Donald Trump are on full display. This part of the narrative is the one I never like in movies or books---the episode of conflict that seemingly has no resolution.
Remembering, this is an epic "play." This politic will soon pass. As (thank the LORD!) the Obamas and the Clintons did.
I am happy for the prayer in the White House, the anti-abortion measures that have been gaining strength, and the many conservative ideas that are becoming reality. That is something to be thankful for.
Socialism kills, always, in every form. It eliminates the weak, it weakens the middle man, it raises the elite. That is fascist socialism at its core. Liberal fascists fail to connect the dots, but in every socialist government to date this plays out.
Do you have liberal acquaintances that always say, "It isn't right for America to be a theocracy?"
I do. It comes up all the time. Just because someone wants laws concerning preservation of innocent human life, and male/female marriage makes that one a proponent of "theocracy."
It has become that ridiculous! America has been a nation of Christians since 1776, and it's liberal Christian laws have birthed the most liberty driven society in the history of the world. Looking at history reveals this. It's why we are where we are today.
There's nothing wrong with keeping something good, more isn't always better, and Christian laws are ultimately fair. Is this a theocracy? I think hardly.
Government of the people, by the people. The Founders of America knew that such a belief system would have to be based on the Christian religion, essentially the 10 commandments. This permeates their writings.
They themselves never recognized the American system as a theocracy. So it must not be.
Laws that ultimately make sense (originally from God) make good society. Western Civilization is the greatest testimony to that.
The shift has begun, and it is on a downward spiral. We are inching away from reason and order, and it will not be able to be restored without bloody revolution.
We won't be here, beloved. We will be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
That is hope, and this hope is the ultimate.
The change may bode ill, but those of us in Christ will all be made alive. Promises from Scripture, worth knowing as we draw our cloaks tighter against the winds of change.
I'm speaking figuratively, of course.
Sheep are separating from goats, and we are in full swing.
Are you ready?
These Days have been prophesied. WE GET TO WITNESS THEM!
The Jesuit plot to undermine the Reformation is in full swing. It didn't die with the Inquisition. Jesuits are alive and well, have been, and are promoting their socialist agendas worldwide. The undercutting of the Bible is at the core of their purpose.
Here are some things my spirit sensed as monumental this week in particular:
The Eugene Peterson revelation: Whether or not he believes homosexual marriage is fine, really, that he in his doddering age could be so obtuse about such a subject even briefly is revealing, and concerning.
His Message has infinite problems.
The James White debacle: This esteemed professor came out with the statement that he considers a known Islamic terrorist his "mentor." Please, people. This is lunacy.
The growing acceptance of "trans," "queer," "gay," ----It is IN OUR FACES everywhere. Sin is simply sin. These folk need lots of love. That isn't the question. Accepting sin as normal is never going to work, but it's becoming the norm.
The Trump Administration has trouble shaking its liberal critics and all the dirty politics and fallen humanness of Donald Trump are on full display. This part of the narrative is the one I never like in movies or books---the episode of conflict that seemingly has no resolution.
Remembering, this is an epic "play." This politic will soon pass. As (thank the LORD!) the Obamas and the Clintons did.
I am happy for the prayer in the White House, the anti-abortion measures that have been gaining strength, and the many conservative ideas that are becoming reality. That is something to be thankful for.
Socialism kills, always, in every form. It eliminates the weak, it weakens the middle man, it raises the elite. That is fascist socialism at its core. Liberal fascists fail to connect the dots, but in every socialist government to date this plays out.
Do you have liberal acquaintances that always say, "It isn't right for America to be a theocracy?"
I do. It comes up all the time. Just because someone wants laws concerning preservation of innocent human life, and male/female marriage makes that one a proponent of "theocracy."
It has become that ridiculous! America has been a nation of Christians since 1776, and it's liberal Christian laws have birthed the most liberty driven society in the history of the world. Looking at history reveals this. It's why we are where we are today.
There's nothing wrong with keeping something good, more isn't always better, and Christian laws are ultimately fair. Is this a theocracy? I think hardly.
Government of the people, by the people. The Founders of America knew that such a belief system would have to be based on the Christian religion, essentially the 10 commandments. This permeates their writings.
They themselves never recognized the American system as a theocracy. So it must not be.
Laws that ultimately make sense (originally from God) make good society. Western Civilization is the greatest testimony to that.
The shift has begun, and it is on a downward spiral. We are inching away from reason and order, and it will not be able to be restored without bloody revolution.
We won't be here, beloved. We will be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
That is hope, and this hope is the ultimate.
The change may bode ill, but those of us in Christ will all be made alive. Promises from Scripture, worth knowing as we draw our cloaks tighter against the winds of change.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Summer is Half Over
The corn across the road is high. It is a lovely green and I don't mind its hedge. The sky is summer blue, and the clouds are innocuous.
Corwyn grows. She's huge. With our travels I've neglected her training, and she needs much discipline! She looks up with those perfect little Corgi eyes and gets away with....
She's pretty cute. I can't wait for puppy stage to be over, but the cuteness is pretty irresistible.
Corgi Hollows is just buzzing. The bees have a couple of boxes full of honey. I do think we will harvest some this year. Ed and Margaret have stepped up to the tasks of keeping them. That's satisfying.
My husband has been spending every spare minute fighting thistles in the swamp. I've been mowing. Mostly I've been trying to catch up with things after being in Arizona for a week! It takes me longer these days.
I've been learning the day shift at the deli. I'm getting pretty good at salads and other scrumptious things. It's fun to see customers line up for the delectables each lunchtime. When you work in a small town you see some people almost every day. Our deli is about the only lunch option. Home-cooked goodness.
I actually look forward to school and subbing again. We will see how long that lasts! I feel like I'm not even in summer mode with everything going on. Gone are the endless days of summer we remember.
Ed started working. Another milestone. He got a good job, and I'm so happy for him. He's taking Calculus II every weekday morning, too.
Margaret works. And works. She even works more. Classes start for her soon, and she's missing France. A good friend is getting married out east, so her hard-earned dollars are buying her passage to the nuptials. I'm so happy she is home. I'm selfish as a mama. I love all my children and when they are away I find an ache of longing in my chest. It never goes away.
The pains of motherhood.
I'm privileged to have most of my children within reach, and I'm able to communicate with all of them. That is a blessing.
Cherie runs in preparation for Cross Country, but not often. She is reading old favorites for the second, or third time. She had a wonderful time at a writer's workshop last month, and she is thinking about everything she learned.
She's the one at home keeping the fires burning, as the rest of us weave in and out of the house.
I've written about the ache of summer days before. This year I've felt it keenly, as the fleeting golden hours slip away to work schedules and other obligations. My expectations for these precious moments were too unrealistic. I'm glad that my time belongs to God.
I'm glad we have timelessness of joy in heaven to anticipate!
Today Cherie and I baked cookies for a soldier. I have a new gadget that Ed asked me to get a few months back. I had never used it before today; a small ice cream scoop with the release bar for forming perfectly sized drop cookies!
Through all the Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties that I've attended I never realized my need for such a gadget, but Ed asked for it one day and I thought, "Why not?"
We found it at Kohl's for a song---Kohl's Cash, you know.
I strongly, highly, recommend buying one for your cookie making improvement. It's revolutionary.
Who knew? These cookies look marvelous.
I'm writing as I wait for the last batch to get out of the oven.
After making tons of potato salad at the deli, my Aunt Del's lemon bars (they are irresistible too), and cookies I'm ready to call it quits for the cooking today.
The oven is turned off. This day is ebbing.
Summer rushes on.
Corwyn grows. She's huge. With our travels I've neglected her training, and she needs much discipline! She looks up with those perfect little Corgi eyes and gets away with....
She's pretty cute. I can't wait for puppy stage to be over, but the cuteness is pretty irresistible.
Corgi Hollows is just buzzing. The bees have a couple of boxes full of honey. I do think we will harvest some this year. Ed and Margaret have stepped up to the tasks of keeping them. That's satisfying.
My husband has been spending every spare minute fighting thistles in the swamp. I've been mowing. Mostly I've been trying to catch up with things after being in Arizona for a week! It takes me longer these days.
I've been learning the day shift at the deli. I'm getting pretty good at salads and other scrumptious things. It's fun to see customers line up for the delectables each lunchtime. When you work in a small town you see some people almost every day. Our deli is about the only lunch option. Home-cooked goodness.
I actually look forward to school and subbing again. We will see how long that lasts! I feel like I'm not even in summer mode with everything going on. Gone are the endless days of summer we remember.
Ed started working. Another milestone. He got a good job, and I'm so happy for him. He's taking Calculus II every weekday morning, too.
Margaret works. And works. She even works more. Classes start for her soon, and she's missing France. A good friend is getting married out east, so her hard-earned dollars are buying her passage to the nuptials. I'm so happy she is home. I'm selfish as a mama. I love all my children and when they are away I find an ache of longing in my chest. It never goes away.
The pains of motherhood.
I'm privileged to have most of my children within reach, and I'm able to communicate with all of them. That is a blessing.
Cherie runs in preparation for Cross Country, but not often. She is reading old favorites for the second, or third time. She had a wonderful time at a writer's workshop last month, and she is thinking about everything she learned.
She's the one at home keeping the fires burning, as the rest of us weave in and out of the house.
I've written about the ache of summer days before. This year I've felt it keenly, as the fleeting golden hours slip away to work schedules and other obligations. My expectations for these precious moments were too unrealistic. I'm glad that my time belongs to God.
I'm glad we have timelessness of joy in heaven to anticipate!
Today Cherie and I baked cookies for a soldier. I have a new gadget that Ed asked me to get a few months back. I had never used it before today; a small ice cream scoop with the release bar for forming perfectly sized drop cookies!
Through all the Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties that I've attended I never realized my need for such a gadget, but Ed asked for it one day and I thought, "Why not?"
We found it at Kohl's for a song---Kohl's Cash, you know.
I strongly, highly, recommend buying one for your cookie making improvement. It's revolutionary.
Who knew? These cookies look marvelous.
I'm writing as I wait for the last batch to get out of the oven.
After making tons of potato salad at the deli, my Aunt Del's lemon bars (they are irresistible too), and cookies I'm ready to call it quits for the cooking today.
The oven is turned off. This day is ebbing.
Summer rushes on.
To Hell in a Hand Basket
When I wake up some mornings I have to ask myself if just perhaps we are on the fast track to the end.
Steady, steady!
All in good time.
God's purposes will be fulfilled in His wonderful time.
The intrigue at the White House, the apostasy in the Church, rampant immorality everywhere we look, these things could be so alarming.
Instead I'm reassured.
Jesus is coming soon.
The world remains blind to the truth, and no amount of preaching or telling can open up spiritual eyes without a spirit that has been stirred by the Holy Spirit.
It's pretty simple.
Let's just throw in the towel and wait on top of the mountain!
I wish.
Instead we buckle down and fight. We pray for those who are lost in sexual sin. We love those who are in prison, in poverty, in trouble. We pray for our loved ones who are spiritually lost. We fast. We wait. We study the Word of God.
Stop reading silly books that question the authority of the Bible. Stop reading things that argue for extra-biblical experiences like yoga, breathing, meditation.
If God gives a vision it will be pretty clear. You will know it. Trust me. It will not contradict Scripture, so if you don't know IF it contradicts you need to get into the Word and test it. It may take a year before you are sure.
You MUST know the Word of God.
Then you can have the confidence to speak in complete agreement. What word did God emphasize for you? What word can you speak to encourage your circle of influence?
Don't speak specifics. That's unfair. Perhaps you saw a vision of someone doing a certain thing. It's fine to share that information, but don't expect to have anyone see your vision as God's direction through you. That's not how it works.
There is spiritual safety in walking steadily and onward in your relationship with Christ. He will see you through. You must act as you see fit each day, each moment, and put Christ first always.
Seek First the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. All these things will be added unto you.
Righteousness is our battle, our task, our assignment.
God will lead through that commitment to righteousness.
And Hell won't be in the picture for you. You will stand by the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross, and that alone.
Steady, steady!
All in good time.
God's purposes will be fulfilled in His wonderful time.
The intrigue at the White House, the apostasy in the Church, rampant immorality everywhere we look, these things could be so alarming.
Instead I'm reassured.
Jesus is coming soon.
The world remains blind to the truth, and no amount of preaching or telling can open up spiritual eyes without a spirit that has been stirred by the Holy Spirit.
It's pretty simple.
Let's just throw in the towel and wait on top of the mountain!
I wish.
Instead we buckle down and fight. We pray for those who are lost in sexual sin. We love those who are in prison, in poverty, in trouble. We pray for our loved ones who are spiritually lost. We fast. We wait. We study the Word of God.
Stop reading silly books that question the authority of the Bible. Stop reading things that argue for extra-biblical experiences like yoga, breathing, meditation.
If God gives a vision it will be pretty clear. You will know it. Trust me. It will not contradict Scripture, so if you don't know IF it contradicts you need to get into the Word and test it. It may take a year before you are sure.
You MUST know the Word of God.
Then you can have the confidence to speak in complete agreement. What word did God emphasize for you? What word can you speak to encourage your circle of influence?
Don't speak specifics. That's unfair. Perhaps you saw a vision of someone doing a certain thing. It's fine to share that information, but don't expect to have anyone see your vision as God's direction through you. That's not how it works.
There is spiritual safety in walking steadily and onward in your relationship with Christ. He will see you through. You must act as you see fit each day, each moment, and put Christ first always.
Seek First the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. All these things will be added unto you.
Righteousness is our battle, our task, our assignment.
God will lead through that commitment to righteousness.
And Hell won't be in the picture for you. You will stand by the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross, and that alone.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Expectations Again
After writing my post about anger last night I had some thoughts about expectations and their failure. I've written about expectations often on Corgi Hollows.
It's human to have expectations, no matter how unreasonable they are.
Because they are.
We all picture a perfect little scene---the brick house in the small town with a white picket fence, flowers magically growing in the window boxes, green lush grass, a sweet car in the garage that needs no work, 1.2 perfect children, size 8 clothes that fit to perfection for her, M for him...vacations, boats, jewelry....
I picture those things as "ideals" for this world. They aren't mine, and your ideals may be completely different. We subconsciously expect perfect scenes to come to us.
They don't.
Our expectations, whatever they might be, are completely unfounded. Completely. You have no idea if you will even take the next breath.
Yeah.
And I've found out the hard way that these expectations only lead to unhappiness.
I know someone who always talks about controlling personalities, and how annoying they are. They are! Controllers try to bring about their expectations all the time, even to the annoyance of others.
They may even use others. Controllers tend to be firstborns, and they see that ungainly trait easily in others because they recognize it in themselves. But controllers have to realize that their expectations are completely unfounded.
I am sort of a "firstborn" since I was raised virtually alone by my parents. My older siblings had little to do with me because they were so much older. I had expectations as a young child----food, shelter, clothing, of course, stimulating activity. I also had expectations of my parents and family.
At a young age my expectations really didn't often come to fruition. You simply CAN'T control people who are more powerful and older than you. I learned to set my expectations quite low, but still they weren't met. I can think of several moments that my "hopes" were dashed.
I can only blame myself. I had false expectations. I don't blame my family! I was wrong! I had a great family, with unusually great parents. But I was the problem. I had false expectations.
False hopes.
I've learned the dangers of expectations, but I still fall prey to them once in awhile. I'm not sure how some people achieve them, frankly. I'm not sure I admire them. I wonder at what cost these fulfillments come.
At Scottsdale Bible Church in Arizona last Sunday I heard an excellent sermon on James. The speaker was a guest from California. He had a very engaging and memorable message, all of it, really, but I was struck by the core of it---God is working through our struggles to bring about His plan.
So what can we really expect? God to keep his word. God to work through our pains, our struggles.
Expect struggles. Expect pain. Expect the end of all things to be wonderful as a child of God.
And that's about it. That's all we can really expect.
And that's good.
It's human to have expectations, no matter how unreasonable they are.
Because they are.
We all picture a perfect little scene---the brick house in the small town with a white picket fence, flowers magically growing in the window boxes, green lush grass, a sweet car in the garage that needs no work, 1.2 perfect children, size 8 clothes that fit to perfection for her, M for him...vacations, boats, jewelry....
I picture those things as "ideals" for this world. They aren't mine, and your ideals may be completely different. We subconsciously expect perfect scenes to come to us.
They don't.
Our expectations, whatever they might be, are completely unfounded. Completely. You have no idea if you will even take the next breath.
Yeah.
And I've found out the hard way that these expectations only lead to unhappiness.
I know someone who always talks about controlling personalities, and how annoying they are. They are! Controllers try to bring about their expectations all the time, even to the annoyance of others.
They may even use others. Controllers tend to be firstborns, and they see that ungainly trait easily in others because they recognize it in themselves. But controllers have to realize that their expectations are completely unfounded.
I am sort of a "firstborn" since I was raised virtually alone by my parents. My older siblings had little to do with me because they were so much older. I had expectations as a young child----food, shelter, clothing, of course, stimulating activity. I also had expectations of my parents and family.
At a young age my expectations really didn't often come to fruition. You simply CAN'T control people who are more powerful and older than you. I learned to set my expectations quite low, but still they weren't met. I can think of several moments that my "hopes" were dashed.
I can only blame myself. I had false expectations. I don't blame my family! I was wrong! I had a great family, with unusually great parents. But I was the problem. I had false expectations.
False hopes.
I've learned the dangers of expectations, but I still fall prey to them once in awhile. I'm not sure how some people achieve them, frankly. I'm not sure I admire them. I wonder at what cost these fulfillments come.
At Scottsdale Bible Church in Arizona last Sunday I heard an excellent sermon on James. The speaker was a guest from California. He had a very engaging and memorable message, all of it, really, but I was struck by the core of it---God is working through our struggles to bring about His plan.
So what can we really expect? God to keep his word. God to work through our pains, our struggles.
Expect struggles. Expect pain. Expect the end of all things to be wonderful as a child of God.
And that's about it. That's all we can really expect.
And that's good.
Friday, July 7, 2017
So We're Back
Who in their right mind drives to Arizona in the summer?
I do.
Our nephew married a lovely there this week, and my husband and I made the trip to be witnesses of the memorable event. It was a wonderful trip, spent with wonderful people, lots of love, happiness and joy.
We even got to side track into the Petrified Forest National Park and observe the stone trees lying on the desert----evidence of a remarkable natural disaster. A flood.
About 4,000 years ago, even. Precisely.
Why not?
When your paradigm is Scripture it is easy to fit the evidence. Not so much when dealing with millions (billions?) of years.
As with the whole scientific argument for a young earth, we can borrow the guidelines of Scripture for setting up our political and philosophical paradigm as well. When politics disappoint we look to the prophecies. We recognize the events as they unfold and look to God's ultimate endgame.
Philosophies are measured against the plumbline of Scripture and we see the errors and fallacies ---sometimes even quickly.
It's a handy guide to life.
As someone who follows Christ I am amazed at the anger I am seeing among those who also profess Christ but hate our current president. I don't approve of him, but I would hope I'd never spew hate. As much as I disliked and distrusted Obama I never allowed myself to HATE him. I prayed for him. Almost daily! I prayed that he would become a believer.
I confess that I don't pray for Trump nearly enough. Lord, help that man!
May the LORD use Trump as He sees fit. God put him in that place as God has put every leader in place since the dawn of time.
Take it up with GOD.
But this anger is stifling, saddening, and ---I will say it----Unchristian!
"Righteous Anger" has always been a lame excuse for carnal anger, and since I can never tell the difference I don't give it much credit. I do know my own temperature emotionally, and I can tell when my brows furrow and my mowing sessions are ruined by mental processing of other people's issues!
Bad idea! I confess. I don't need to solve other people's issues. I have enough of my own.
Anger is dangerous, though, and bitterness is right in step with it. The Bible says that bitterness can make the bones brittle. I believe that. I think it's true. I don't want to let bitterness damage my health. Anger can damage MUCH more than my health. It can destroy relationships, things, and reputations.
Watch out for anger.
It's easy to get angry at Trump. I saw an article in Christianity Today that mentioned Ken Burns and his inability to understand evangelicals. Why did they vote for such vileness? (He said it more vilely.)
He's so angry!
I don't think he even wants to understand the mindset of those who believed that this election was pivotal in many ways, that getting the deep state swamp Jesuit driven Luciferian Illuminati Rhodes Scholar Clintons out of power was vital to the wellbeing of freedom in America. He doesn't get the whole picture, does he? He doesn't even want to, apparently. He spews anger, and that's his aim.
If there is anger anywhere it should be directed at Lucifer himself, but even that is not right. God will take care of Lucifer when the times are fulfilled.
Our anger is fruitless, accomplishes nothing, and hurts us in the end.
So how shall we then live?
When we are in disagreement with the powers that be we must protest. We stand for truths. We wait. We pray. We trust the Lord, that He will bring His purposes to fruition. We keep His commands and live our quiet lives as Micah stipulates. We pray for God's will to be done, and allow prayer to change us, releasing our desires to the Most High.
That's a lot. There is much to do instead of getting angry. Destructive behaviors are never sanctioned.
We live for truth and love.
Whoever is in power is in God's hands, be he anti-Christ or Christian "soldier."
Most of us Christian "soldiers" have issues, so we're not supposed to see ourselves as better than anyone else. Yes, we can make discerning decisions (judgments) about how we should live and what is right or wrong in God's eyes, but we leave the Judgment up to God. He has let us know how He views most things regarding human behavior. (See the 10 Commandments)
We're called to preach the Gospel. Plain and simple.
So let's do it.
I do.
Our nephew married a lovely there this week, and my husband and I made the trip to be witnesses of the memorable event. It was a wonderful trip, spent with wonderful people, lots of love, happiness and joy.
We even got to side track into the Petrified Forest National Park and observe the stone trees lying on the desert----evidence of a remarkable natural disaster. A flood.
About 4,000 years ago, even. Precisely.
Why not?
When your paradigm is Scripture it is easy to fit the evidence. Not so much when dealing with millions (billions?) of years.
As with the whole scientific argument for a young earth, we can borrow the guidelines of Scripture for setting up our political and philosophical paradigm as well. When politics disappoint we look to the prophecies. We recognize the events as they unfold and look to God's ultimate endgame.
Philosophies are measured against the plumbline of Scripture and we see the errors and fallacies ---sometimes even quickly.
It's a handy guide to life.
As someone who follows Christ I am amazed at the anger I am seeing among those who also profess Christ but hate our current president. I don't approve of him, but I would hope I'd never spew hate. As much as I disliked and distrusted Obama I never allowed myself to HATE him. I prayed for him. Almost daily! I prayed that he would become a believer.
I confess that I don't pray for Trump nearly enough. Lord, help that man!
May the LORD use Trump as He sees fit. God put him in that place as God has put every leader in place since the dawn of time.
Take it up with GOD.
But this anger is stifling, saddening, and ---I will say it----Unchristian!
"Righteous Anger" has always been a lame excuse for carnal anger, and since I can never tell the difference I don't give it much credit. I do know my own temperature emotionally, and I can tell when my brows furrow and my mowing sessions are ruined by mental processing of other people's issues!
Bad idea! I confess. I don't need to solve other people's issues. I have enough of my own.
Anger is dangerous, though, and bitterness is right in step with it. The Bible says that bitterness can make the bones brittle. I believe that. I think it's true. I don't want to let bitterness damage my health. Anger can damage MUCH more than my health. It can destroy relationships, things, and reputations.
Watch out for anger.
It's easy to get angry at Trump. I saw an article in Christianity Today that mentioned Ken Burns and his inability to understand evangelicals. Why did they vote for such vileness? (He said it more vilely.)
He's so angry!
I don't think he even wants to understand the mindset of those who believed that this election was pivotal in many ways, that getting the deep state swamp Jesuit driven Luciferian Illuminati Rhodes Scholar Clintons out of power was vital to the wellbeing of freedom in America. He doesn't get the whole picture, does he? He doesn't even want to, apparently. He spews anger, and that's his aim.
If there is anger anywhere it should be directed at Lucifer himself, but even that is not right. God will take care of Lucifer when the times are fulfilled.
Our anger is fruitless, accomplishes nothing, and hurts us in the end.
So how shall we then live?
When we are in disagreement with the powers that be we must protest. We stand for truths. We wait. We pray. We trust the Lord, that He will bring His purposes to fruition. We keep His commands and live our quiet lives as Micah stipulates. We pray for God's will to be done, and allow prayer to change us, releasing our desires to the Most High.
That's a lot. There is much to do instead of getting angry. Destructive behaviors are never sanctioned.
We live for truth and love.
Whoever is in power is in God's hands, be he anti-Christ or Christian "soldier."
Most of us Christian "soldiers" have issues, so we're not supposed to see ourselves as better than anyone else. Yes, we can make discerning decisions (judgments) about how we should live and what is right or wrong in God's eyes, but we leave the Judgment up to God. He has let us know how He views most things regarding human behavior. (See the 10 Commandments)
We're called to preach the Gospel. Plain and simple.
So let's do it.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
Saturday, July 1, 2017
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