Sunday, November 11, 2012

What now? Post-election thoughts....

~~~First of all, Happy Veteran's Day.  This is one of my favorite holidays.  I get emotional when I think of every one who has fought for my family and me.  Those people are the bravest moms, dads, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, friends, and many of them sacrificed their lives for me!  For all of us!  They are truly to be honored. ~~~

There are some people rejoicing that Obama is back in office for a short 4 year stint, and there are others who are in mourning and grieving that Obama was re-elected for a LONG, painful, scary 4 year process.

I was 100% sure of who I was voting for, and my guy lost.  I was saddened, sure.  I was thinking, oh my, think of everyone who will be affected.  What will this mean for our country and for our future and for our people.

After I realized that I absolutely could do nothing to change it, I was reminded that NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE can take away my freedom.  I could read prophecy about the end times, I could listen over and over to the conservative media analyze what happened and what was going to happen, but except for having a feeling of likemindedness, NOTHING WAS GOING TO CHANGE.  Barack Obama was the United States of America's president for the next 4 years. 

I realized that I am free.  My place of freedom can't be seen.  My place of freedom will never perish.  My place of freedom has people fighting every day on this earth to make people realize that THEY ARE FREE!!!  They're in God's army, and the good news is GOD WINS!!!

In my life, not even the meanest, scariest, darkest person or leader can change me.  I am willing to die for Jesus.  And if I die for Him, I will go to a place where freedom reigns eternally. 

People, take heart in that.  Yes, our nation will surely have trials and tribulations.  It's biblical.  IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.  But are you ready?  Are you ready to enlist in God's army?  Are we not in a state of emergency?  Let's call GEMA (God's Emergency Man Agency). 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Have you heard this song?.....

In Christ Alone by Getty & Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand



Go listen to it.  There are many artists who perform this.....Avalon, Newsboys, etc.  Just You Tube it.  I get emotional every time I hear it!!!!  It's right up there with Amazing Grace!

Monday, November 5, 2012

I'm speechless...

I'd love to say I'm speechless because my 10 year old son told us yesterday that he "felt different while he was singing at church, like God was really there".  He said that he knew God was always there. "But Mom and Dad, this felt different, do you know what I mean?, he explained.  From there, he shared that he asked Jesus to come into his heart and that he was "confused, but a good confused".  He truly was feeling the Spirit moving and didn't know what to do with that.  I remember that feeling.  It was new, exciting, scary (but a good scary), etc.

Of course, we feel so good knowing that Will is feeling the Holy Spirit and realizing what it means to be a Christian by accepting Christ, but that's not why I'm speechless...

I was in a Christian bookstore today buying myself a brand spanking new Bible!!!  (Mine needed to be put in a special place and didn't need to be used on a daily basis as the spine was wearing out/falling apart and it is VERY sentimental.)  

Back to the story:  There were two men arguing - loudly!!!  They were employees of the bookstore (the manager and an empoyee).  I don't want to be overly dramatic by saying it was a shouting match, but let's just say it got the entire store's attention!  The employee ended up quitting on the spot.  I was uncomfortable to say the least.

As I was waiting in line, I observed the manager as he waited on the customer in front of me.  He was clearly flustered.  The customer had purchased a few things off the "sale" table.  She was arguing with the manager over one particular item.  In my mind I'm thinking, please let me get out of this store and quick, but unfortunately the customer was preventing anyone from moving anywhere quickly.  I noticed what she was arguing about........The manager had given her 40% off the item in question, but she stated that the item was not 40% off, but 50% off.  The manager explained that he was so sorry, but the item was placed on the wrong table, it was really 40% off.  He stated that because the item was on the wrong table he would go ahead and give her the 50% off.  He asked her to show him where she got the item, so he could move the others if there were any.  She showed him, and promptly said, "I'm sorry".  WAS SHE????  She still let him give her the 50% off.  What's 10%?  It was an accident.  She wasn't going to say, "never mind I would not like to buy it at this time".  NO, she expected him to give her the extra 10% off!!!!!  I love how she said she was sorry......really???  Oh, I forgot the craziest part - THE ITEM'S ORIGINAL COST WAS $1.75 (that's ONE DOLLAR AND SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS!!!).  She was arguing over the $1.75 item being 50% off versus 40% off!!!

Ok, I'm sure many of you were thinking that maybe she was in extreme poverty or something.  Well, you might be right.  I thought about that.  It was hard to not be frustrated because the item in question was a KEYCHAIN....... But let's go a bit furthur, maybe she was in extreme poverty AND was planning to share the gospel with someone through this keychain????  The keychain was a little light that said, "Jesus is the light of my life".  Maybe it was the key (no pun intended) to changing someone's life, and I was merely being judgmental.

What are your thoughts???  I seriously thought - WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO when you are in a Christian bookstore (I know, I know they're human and sinners too) and there is a heated, loud, unprofessional argument between two men.  I guess it makes me feel upset because both of these men have waited on me a number of times.  They recognize me when I come into the store.  These men have asked me to sponsor a child through WorldVision.  These men have guided customors on what Bible to buy.  I've heard them share snip-its of why a particular book spoke to them....

Then when the customer in front of me was buying Christian items and causing such a scene....WOW!!!  I'm speechless.