John 1:14
“The Word
became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His Glory,
the Glory of the One and Only Son,
who came from the Father,
full of Grace and Truth.”
And you!!
Be honest with God…
He’ll never let you go…
Jesus, we need You…
Lord, help us to believe…
Show us Your arms are open…
Your blood redeems…
Show me You can love…
Even me…
Show me Grace was made for…
People like me…
Amen!
1 Corinthians 1:3
“Grace and Peace to you from
God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reblogged from: http://drkellyflanagan.com/?s=makeup+aisle&submit=Search
Dear Little One,
As I write this, I’m sitting in the makeup aisle of our local Target store. A friend recently texted me from a different makeup aisle and told me it felt like one of the most oppressive places in the world. I wanted to find out what he meant. And now that I’m sitting here, I’m beginning to agree with him. Words have power, and the words on display in this aisle have a deep power. Words and phrases like:
Affordably gorgeous,
Infallible,
Flawless finish,
Brilliant strength,
Liquid power,
Go nude,
Age defying,
Instant age rewind,
Choose your dream,
Nearly naked, and
Natural beauty.
When you have a daughter you start to realize she’s just as strong as everyone else in the house—a force to be reckoned with, a soul on fire with the same life and gifts and passions as any man. But sitting in this store aisle, you also begin to realize most people won’t see her that way. They’ll see her as a pretty face and a body to enjoy. And they’ll tell her she has to look a certain way to have any worth or influence.
But words do have power and maybe, just maybe, the words of a father can begin to compete with the words of the world. Maybe a father’s words can deliver his daughter through this gauntlet of institutionalized shame and into a deep, unshakeable sense of her own worthiness and beauty.
A father’s words aren’t different words, but they are words with a radically different meaning:
Brilliant strength. May your strength be not in your fingernails but in your heart. May you discern in your center who you are, and then may you fearfully but tenaciously live it out in the world.
Choose your dream. But not from a department store shelf. Find the still-quiet place within you. A real dream has been planted there. Discover what you want to do in the world. And when you have chosen, may you faithfully pursue it, with integrity and with hope.
Naked. The world wants you to take your clothes off. Please keep them on. But take your gloves off. Pull no punches. Say what is in your heart. Be vulnerable. Embrace risk. Love a world that barely knows what it means to love itself. Do so nakedly. Openly. With abandon.
Infallible. May you be constantly, infallibly aware that infallibility doesn’t exist. It’s an illusion created by people interested in your wallet. If you choose to seek perfection, may it be in an infallible grace—for yourself, and for everyone around you.
Age defying. Your skin will wrinkle and your youth will fade, but your soul is ageless. It will always know how to play and how to enjoy and how to revel in this one-chance life. May you always defiantly resist the aging of your spirit.
Flawless finish. Your finish has nothing to do with how your face looks today and everything to do with how your life looks on your last day. May your years be a preparation for that day. May you be aged by grace, may you grow in wisdom, and may your love become big enough to embrace all people. May your flawless finish be a peaceful embrace of the end and the unknown that follows, and may it thus be a gift to everyone who cherishes you.
Little One, you love everything pink and frilly and I will surely understand if someday makeup is important to you. But I pray three words will remain more important to you—the last three words you say every night, when I ask the question: “Where are you the most beautiful?” Three words so bright no concealer can cover them.
Where are you the most beautiful?
On the inside.
From my heart to yours,
Daddy
Like the last letter I wrote to my daughter, I wrote this first for her and the day I’ll eventually read it to her. But I also wrote it for every woman who needs to hear the words of a father. Women, no one else can define your beauty for you. But they’ll try.
My daughter is four years-old now. If her awakening to the makeup aisle comes at the typical age, I figure we have about five years to radically alter the arc of history and the subjugation-by-image of the female gender. We’ve got a lot of work to do. And it begins in the heart of each and every woman.
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Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you
because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech,
in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
My son will be 23 years-old on Labor Day!
We celebrated his Birthday today…
Because he’ll be away for his Birthday weekend…
That’s what happens when they grow up…
They do things independently of their parents!!
Happy Birthday, Casey!
We love you!
All God’s Blessings!
How did those years go by soooo fast?!?!
You’re an amazing gift from God to us!!
Here’s my prayer for you!!
That you will build your life…
And future home of your own…
On the strong foundation of Jesus Christ!
So you can lead!
Isaiah 54:13
“All your children will be taught by the Lord,
and great will be their peace.”
2 Timothy 3:14-15
“But as for you,
continue in what you have learned
and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it,
and how from infancy
you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Here’s a link to Holley Gerth’s blog post today:
http://holleygerth.com/when-god-changes-your-plans-an-infertility-update/
Please read it…
Be prepared to cry and rejoice!!
Here’s my comment to her:
Holley, I read this post this morning…
As we were getting ready to celebrate my son’s 23rd Birthday…
We did the 10-year “infertility roller-coaster” years ago to have him…
I had him when I was 41…
He’s the light of our lives…
And our gift from God!
There was a point where we came to the same moment you and your husband came to…
We were only going to be able to afford one more round of in-vitro…
and my very blunt Mom said to me,
“Maybe it’s not God’s will for you to have a child!”
That shocked me…
I stopped in my tracks thinking about it!!
Then, I knew I believed that it WAS God’s will for me to have a child!
We had a miscarriage before my son,
Lost the other two embryos that were transferred with him,
And had a miscarriage after him!!
Though I wanted all those babies we lost,
I know I’ll see them in Heaven!
Now I direct a Drama Team at church,
And I’m “Drama Mama” to so many kids, teens, and young adults!!
God is so good!!
We each need to ask God the hard questions as you did…
And His answers are the BEST for our lives!
May God richly bless you always!!”
The Birthday Boy Man!!!
That face always makes me smile!!!!
Proverbs 1:8
“Listen, my son,
to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Father and Son!
Proverbs 29:17
“Correct thy son,
and he shall give thee rest;
yea,
he shall give delight unto thy soul.”
My son makes “Mothering” so easy and lots of fun!!
Psalm 127:3
“Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from Him.
Yeah!!
Birthday money to buy stuff!!!
John 16:21
“A woman giving birth to a child
has pain because her time has come;
but when her baby is born
she forgets the anguish
because of her joy
that a child is born into the world.”
We brought our Precious Little Girl…
A chewy treat from Petco on our way home from Outback…
Obviously, she cares more about that treat…
Than taking a Birthday photo with Casey!!
Proverbs 3:1-6
“My son, do not forget My teaching,
but keep My commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.”
It’s so hard to get a good photo of our Crazy Siberian…
‘Cause she’s constantly moving…
That’s why I love landscape photography…
Most things stand still!!
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test
and approve what God’s will is—
His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
My two “Babies!”
He always smiles…
She’s smiling…
But she still has the chewy treat in her mouth!
She always thinks we’re going to take it from her!!
What would we want with that yucky chewy???
James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift
is from above,
coming down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Psalm 115:14
“May the Lord cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.”
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only be careful,
and watch yourselves closely
so that you do not forget
the things your eyes have seen
or let them fade from your heart
as long as you live.
Teach them to your children
and to their children after them.”
Jesus I pray…
-Your Word will prevail over our children…
-Your Peace will embrace them…
-They seek Your Wisdom and Understanding …
-They’re quick to obey You…
-They’re Holy in all conduct…
-They hunger and thirst for more of You each day…
-They’re content with what they have…
-They grow in the grace and knowledge of You, Lord…
-They’re clothed with humility…
-They cast their cares upon You, Father, for You care for them…
-They’re doers of the Word, and not hearers only…
-They learn to effectively share their faith…
-They don’t have a spirit of fear…
-But of power, love, and a sound mind…
-You save them…
-You call them with a Holy Calling…
-You provide safety for them, day and night…
-They walk in the Light as You are in the Light…
-You purify their hearts…
-They follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
-They have favor and high esteem with God and man.
Amen!
2 Timothy 2:22-25
“Run from temptations that capture young people.
Always do the right thing.
Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with.
Worship with people whose hearts are pure.
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments.
These only lead to trouble,
and God’s servants must not be troublemakers.
They must be kind to everyone,
and they must be good teachers and very patient.
Be humble when you correct people who oppose you.
Maybe God will lead them to turn to Him and learn the truth.”
Casey, you are all these things…
Praise the Lord!
God did a great job raising you!!
Thank you everyone who prayed with us…
All those long years of waiting…
For God to give us the desire of our hearts!
Happy Birthday, You are Loved!
Give Them The Best You Have!!
A Back-To-School Lesson!
Romans 12:7
“If your gift is serving others,
serve them well.
If you are a teacher,
teach well.”
Titus 2:7-8
“In everything
set them an example by doing what is good.
In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned,
so that those who oppose you
may be ashamed
because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
For additional verses about teachers, go to:
http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-teachers.html
Where according to:
Prayers for Special Help,
“These Bible verses about teachers enlighten us
first on the exceptional responsibility that one has while teaching.
Due to the impact a teacher has on a student,
one quote warns us that teachers will be judged
with a greater strictness than others.
Jesus is often called a teacher
and he himself confirmed that he was one;
the apostles were also teachers.
The teaching passages above
also insist that the ability to teach is a gift
in which the teacher serves others
and leads by example
with the objective to make the students
as wise as the teacher.
It is the teacher’s task to study,
handle the truth correctly,
and teach accurate information
while treating the pupil with respect.
These quotes identify integrity,
dignity,
faithfulness,
and lack of hypocrisy
as traits that the teacher should possess.
Overall, the teacher is warned about too much study
that does not focus on the fear of God
and living a godly life.”
Humbling stuff, huh???
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom,
you should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to you.”
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Luke 12:12
“…for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time
what you should say.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17
“But as for you,
continue in what you have learned
and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it,
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for
teaching,
rebuking,
correcting
and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;
tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads.
Teach them to your children,
talking about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down
and when you get up.
Write them on the door frames of your houses
and on your gates,
so that your days
and the days of your children
may be many in the land the Lord
swore to give your ancestors,
as many as the days
that the heavens are above the earth.”
Lord,
Teachers are going Back-To-School now!
We need Your help!!
Please help us to show Your love!
Even when our days are chaotic!
Especially, when our days are chaotic!!!
Amen!!
Oh, Yeah!!
I’ve been Reborn!!
If you see a change in me…
Don’t wonder…
There’s Someone in my life…
A Peace I can’t describe…
I’ve been Reborn!
I’ve found a whole New Life…
And Hope that I can’t hide!!
Have you ever felt…
A longing…
A searching in your soul…
For something more?
But, you don’t know what for…
There’s One who will reach across the distance…
From Heaven to the earth…
Because He loves you…
He loves you!!
A Peace I can’t describe…
Have you ever felt that something’s missing…
Within your soul?
You want something more..
But, you don’t know what for…
There is only One you need…
But, you’ve got to Believe…
That He loves you!
Enough to give His life!!
Our friends from church,
Mike and Janene Harper and their family (Brittany, Bethany, and Nataley)
are in Nicaragua working with
YWAM (Youth With A Mission)
for about 10 days.
Many in our church family have helped sponsor and support them
on their last couple of trips.
Our Pastor shared last Sunday
about being the “Salt & Light” of the World…
Now they’re sharing the Light of Christ in Nicaragua.
He asked for prayer for them and the team that is there,
along with the country they’re serving…
Prayer for their safety,
for the people there who do not know Jesus,
and that lives will be forever changed!
Here’s the latest update from the Harper’s
and it’s truly amazing to read.
“Boy, are we beat!
We spent yesterday in the town of Masatepe learning the town.
We began prayer-walks all over the city that we’ll distribute Bibles in.
They’re hard covered whole Bibles,
and the people are so excited we’re coming.
The churches were asked to respond, if they wanted to help.
Over 35 churches and 180 people responded!
Amazing!
Today our 4 teams of 12 will start distribution.
My team will be at the construction site
and at the YWAM base, building a home,
and working on updating the base.
This town is Dirambe.
It’s a very poor area,
where the base started its vision in 1996
of getting a Bible into the hands of every Nicaraguan family by 2020.
This first city reached, has seen dramatic changes in crime and violence.
They have become a city with Hope!
They love Jesus!
And now reach other cities!
I can’t wait to visit this city again.
Kelly, the director, should be there today.
He has been a missionary in Nicaragua
through YWAM for a long time.
We’ve worked with him before,
so it’s nice to know a face there.
The YWAM school we are considering is his school.
It’s a bilingual school.
My husband, Mike, preached last night
for about half an hour
on the importance of relationship with Christ,
and allowing that overflow to pour out to others.
The Nicas “Amend-ed” and agreed!
He had a translator, who is our team leader.
She’s from Spain.
Her name is Gail.
They worked great together.
The church was an Assembly of God.
It was a whopping 1 1/2 hour worship time.
Wow!
We sang,
‘Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord’
in English and Spanish
Wow!
How it pleases God’s heart to hear our worship!!
We’re all still well, so far.
We’ve eaten many foods and styles of foods.
It was hard on the tummy at first,
but it’s getting better.
We’ve had an amazing several days.
God’s given the girls great boldness in witnessing.
We’ve been distributing Bibles with churches.
My team has 2 precious Nica ladies.
They helped me lead a family
to Jesus, who
they had never even heard of.
I got to tell them the whole story.
They cried,
and were excited to give their lives to Christ.
When we left,
we saw them reading the Bible already.
Amazing!
Their names were taken down by the local church,
who saw many families already added to their numbers.
The church had new people show up for the Wednesday service to hear more.
The Pastor could not stop thanking us,
and the people in America who sent us.
It put feet to the ministry God started for him.
Some locals and our team ministered at the dump with about 100 children.
I met Eduardo (an 8-year-old boy) there,
and again God allowed my heart to break.
Oh, my heart!
We fed them and played with them.
It was such a day!
I so could have packed him up and kept him.
I could have kept all of them!
Today was distribution and school ministry.
The Principal allowed us to minister to 250-300 kids.
This was a public school!
It was unheard of before.
We went from class to class with the Gospel.
Only God allowed such favor!
We talked to the children about how the world labels us,
and how Jesus cuts those labels off,
and calls us His children!
Each of us spoke.
Brittany gave the Gospel to high schoolers.
What boldness!
Please keep praying.
When I felt very low and overtired,
I prayed,
and God revealed to me
that there are so many lifting us to the Father
right at that moment!
I so needed that.
Thank you for agreeing to do that for us.
We love you
and thank you all for believing in this mission.
Live from Nicaragua (Tuesday PM)
“Today was a very long day for us,
but we saw God do great things.
We had the privilege of teaming up with several local churches
to hand out Bibles door to door.
We told many people the Gospel,
encouraged them to read their shiny, new Bibles,
and laid hands on the sick.
Many gave their lives to God!
In spite of our poor attempts at the Spanish language,
God still used us to do great things!
Later in the day,
we went to one of the city dumps,
where many families live by digging through the garbage for their food and belongings.
One person said it well,
‘It was hard for us to take, but it was well received by them.’
We fed them,
demonstrated God’s love for them,
and made them feel important.
Here, many consider them ‘garbage.’
Yesterday, we helped build a house for a needy family,
did some much needed painting at the YWAM base here in Nicaragua,
and did street ministry.
We are definitely not sitting around wasting time
and, as you can see, neither is God!!
He is answering your prayers,
working in our hearts
and moving in Nicaragua!
He is a great God to say the least!!
Love, Janene and familia”
Please pray for our friends…
For the children and people of Nicaragua…
That Jesus would become real to them!!
Isaiah 52:7
“How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
‘Your God reigns!'”
Amen!
Writerly thoughts from a life in Christ
pursuing Knowledge. feeling Eternity
End Times Bible Prophecy and News, End Times Deception, Societal Collapse, Apostasy, False Christs - Prophets - Apostles - Teachers, Whore of Babylon Church, Opinion, Commentary & Bible Teaching, Demonic Power, War, Rumors of War, Famine, Pestilence, Familiar Spirits,Salvation in Jesus Christ, NWO, UFOs, Earthquakes, Counterfeit Christianity, New World Order, Conspiracies, Nephilim, Giants, Signs and Lying Wonders, End Times Sin & Corruption
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