tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41799271304345162772024-02-02T12:26:59.900-08:00Missy's musingsThings I've learned. Lessons God is teaching me. Sharing Treasures with Friends.Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-56375432295265117862021-01-11T12:49:00.005-08:002021-01-11T12:49:49.597-08:00WE NEED HEALING<p><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">“ </span>If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, than I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">2 Chronicles 7:14</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">These are the words, the LORD God spoke to Solomon after the dedication of the temple. These are words that we, the citizens of the United States of America, need to heed now.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of us need to humble ourselves before God.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One definition of humble says: having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That is exactly what we have done. We have decided what we say, goes. What we do is right. That we can make our own decisions, and all else be damned. That we are the greatest country in the world. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No. No we are not the greatest country in the world. Maybe to our opinions, yes. Have you wondered what the rest of the world thinks of us after yesterdays events? They see us as self-righteous. They believe we got what we deserved. How on earth did we get this so far wrong?</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many in our country believed most everything that Donald J Trump said. Although in fact checking what he says, we have found evidence after evidence after evidence that he lies. I can’t begin to understand him or his theatrics. Could it be that he has spent his whole life trying to earn the love of his father? And that he bullies anyone he chooses because then he can feel better about himself? I have no idea.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What I do know for sure is that if he was trying to earn his father’s love, he chose the wrong FATHER. The thing is we don’t have to do anything to earn Our Father’s love. He loves us just the way we are, grievous faults and all. We have forgotten that ALL men and women, all girls and boys, have been created in the image of God. It makes absolutely no difference the color of our skin, we ARE ALL made in the image of GOD. No one is better than anyone else. No one. He loves each of us with what I call an indescribable love. We are not capable to love each other as God loves us. Oh, but how different it would be if we could.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No one is exempt from God’s love. NO ONE.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are all the same as far as He is concerned. Whether we are Black, or Brown, or Yellow or White, as the song says: we are all precious in His sight. It doesn’t matter if we are single or married, gay or straight, conservative or liberal, able bodied or disabled, whether we are rich or poor, whether we acknowledge GOD or not; HE LOVES EACH OF US.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The audacity and pride we have to think we are better than others is what is evil and can make us wicked. We become our own god. And that is where everything goes wrong. Have we made ourselves more important than everyone else? With the attempted coup and storming of the Capitol yesterday, it certainly seems that some of us think we know what is best, and we will do whatever it takes-including the violence and mockery that was shown. We will desecrate things because we don’t get our way. Our guy didn’t win. Seriously this is beyond even childish.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We do need to humble ourselves. We need to acknowledge where we have been wrong. We need to remember that we are just human beings; we are NOT God. But, we NEED GOD, now more than ever. We need to renounce our pride, we need to quit pointing out who is wrong. We need to get the correct estimation of ourselves. We need to move on. We need to heal and we need to forgive. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Forgiveness is not easy. It comes with a huge price, it means we need to stop being angry or resentful. This requires HARD HARD work in our case. We have put politics above people. We have to let go of hatred and ask how to love without conditions. There are so many of us struggling today saying this is not our country, we don’t behave this way. Guess what? Some of us did. Some of us thought about repaying evil with evil.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One of the things that upset me so much was realizing once again that we are a country who believes its White citizens are more important than anyone else. This is as far from truth and humility as we get. This is what we have done from the beginning to our Native brothers and sisters, to our Black brothers and sisters when we began selling them as our slaves, how we treated descendants of Ireland and Italy with disdain. How Latinos have felt mocked, how Asians moving here are judged. White supremacy needs to end. We must move and achieve justice for ALL-regardless of our skin color.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As 2 Chronicles 14:7 states we MUST humble ourselves, and pray and seek God, so that we can be forgiven and begin to heal our land. We deserve to do this for ourselves and for everyone else in our country.</p>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-9150249282891232142020-05-27T12:51:00.001-07:002020-05-27T12:51:16.291-07:00ENOUGH<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I am angry, at a loss and grieving the loss of another Black man who was killed by a white policeman who was kneeling on this mans neck while three other officers just stood by and watched.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">George Floyd screamed- or did it slowly become a whisper : “I CANT BREATHE”. I imgaine as the blood flow from his carotid artery blocked blood to his brain, that his voice got quieter and quieter. Bystandarders were shouting at the police to stop, to let him be, that he cant breathe and someone called an ambulance and he was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. In all reality, he was dead soon after he lost consciousness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gratefully, the Mayor of Minneapolis fired these 4 policeman. One for sure is a murderer and the other three are accomplices. They do not deserve any special treatment. They are murderers. Period.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If the situation had been reversed, and four Black policeman were involved killing a white man, they would have probably been shot and killed themselves by this point.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WHY do our Black brothers and sisters have to keep enduring this time and time again? Why is racism still so prevalent in America? It has not stopped since the arrival of the first Black Africans sold as slaves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WHITE SUPREMACY MUST END.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having white skin makes me no better or no worse than anyone else in the world. But why do some white people-aptly called racists-have this hatred and maliciousness against really any people of color, whether they are Black or Brown or Yellow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am not better. You are no better.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We all belong to the same human family. All created by God in His image. All deeply loved and valued by God. No one is loved anymore or any less in the eyes of the Almighty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am done with the hashtags. They show that we care, but that too, is not enough. From now on, I, a white little bit eldery woman, commit to doing whatever I can to STOP white supremacy, to STOP racial profiling, to STOP racial injustice against any person of color and promise to pursue racial justice and racial reconciliation. I am not quite sure how I will do this but I will. I have read books and just beginning to read BE THE BRIDGE. I will reach out to others for suggestions and help. I will keep trying. I will keep being angry and grieved. I will lament over our racism. I wll lament over not doing something sooner.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I refuse to be like the German Christians in WW II, who heard the trains, knew about the atrocities and killings of millions of Jews at the concentration camps and said not a word.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">IF you are a TRUE FOLLOWER of JESUS CHRIST, you too, will quit standing by doing nothing. These men and women of color are weary. So so weary. NOTHING has changed. They cant go running or to a store or even be in their own home, without being gunned down. Put yourself in their shoes-this is SO INCREDIBLY terrible and so sad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We have been told to love one another as Christ loves us. This includes all People of Color. They are not only our neighbor but our family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">White men and women must be held accountable. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE DO NOT SIT BY AND DO NOTHING.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">THIS IS NOT WHO WE WERE MADE TO BE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">LOVE IS THE ANSWER.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reach out in love. BE a do-er. BE a listener. BE involved. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just do anything.</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-8277455511709985432019-05-19T11:45:00.003-07:002019-05-20T07:38:47.725-07:00Speaking up<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I was 19 years old. A sophmore in college having such a fun and independent time. I met up one weekend when I was home with an old boyfriend. We drank way too much and slept together (altho I have to admit it wasn't the 1st time this happened with him). What I did not expect was to find out 6 weeks later that I was pregnant.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was lost. I was scared. I told him and he asked me to marry him. I said yes. We told our parents and started to plan a wedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What I had never anticipated was that during this time-after I found out and before I told him, I began a relationship with Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I had been raised a Catholic and knew always that God was real. But somehow it was never communicated to me in ten years of Catholic schools, that God wanted to be involved in my life every single day. This was such amazing and wonderful news to me. I will never get over that astounding fact. I am so thankful that a college crush told me about Jesus. I will forever be grateful to him </span><span style="font-size: large;">I </span><span style="font-size: large;">for introducing me to Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, how do I tell my parents? WHAT do I do now?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In those days we had "dorm mothers" instead of RA's or she would have been RD now. She told me that Washington was one of the only states that had legalized abortion. This whole concept was completely foreign to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was a complete mess. Couldn't concentrate on my studies, got 3 D's that semester. What made me lean towards ending this baby's life was that the guy-my now fiancee, made fun of me about my relationship with Jesus. He called me a "Jesus freak", the 70's term for a follower of Christ. I knew this was real and that I would never walk away from Jesus-or was pretty sure I wouldn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This boy had cheated on me while we were dating when I was in high school and I wondered if he would cheat on me if we were married. I decided to end our engagement. And with much anguish (and even talking to a pastor who didn't dissuade me against the abortion), I decided to terminate this little life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Believe me I regret that decision to this day. Adoption was never mentioned as an option. I felt I had no way out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which is how many women and young gals feel when they go to have an abortion. We can't see beyond our circumstances at that moment. We feel we have no other choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It isn't easy at all. You still are a mess afterwards.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know with me, that I considered this the worst sin I would ever commit, and it was. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What I do remember was God's immediate forgiveness on that table. I asked Him to forgive me and He immediately did. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I have suffered consequences from my decision. The hardest person to ever tell about this was my future husband and then 22 years later, our three children (Ryan wasn't with us yet). My now husband and almost 16 yr old son basically said the same thing: "If God forgives you, how can I do anything but do the same?".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am pro-life. I detest abortion. I don't like it. But I know what it's like to be in that desperate situation when you see no way out. I imagine most women in my position feel the same way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But Pro-life to me means more than just abortion. It means end of life care. It means caring for all lives. Not just Americans. It means treating everyone with respect and valuing them-no matter if they are brown or black or yellow in color. It means caring for people with disabilities, whether they are physical or emotional. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This weeks decisions in Alabama and Missouri has re-surfaced my feelings of desperation. I hope they mean to convey that children should be wanted and loved and that is all they mean. The representative from Missouri who said there is conceptual rape has been wrongly and grossly misinformed. Being pro-life is more than just about babies.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to speak up because we tend to judge people by their words.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't care if you judge me. But I do care that you judge women who are desperate, for the LGTBQ population who are different than you, for the immigrants who have a different skin color and are separated from their children as they try to enter a country that offers freedom (or so they heard). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't believe we can speak judgement on people when we haven't been in their shoes, when we haven't experienced what they have had to go through. We can have our thoughts but do we have the right or the responsibility to judge others and speak out about it when we can't possibly understand their lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know abortion is something that grieves the heart of God. I also know He forgives. I know treating immigrants as if they didn't matter and we shame them grieves His heart as well. I know how we treat and respond to people who are gay, the LBGTQ community are God's children, and as with all others, we may not agree with them, but each one of us throughout our world are to be respected and loved, because we are all God's children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My oldest daughter, who I was really afraid to tell about my abortion said something to me that I will never forget. She offered forgiveness and grace when she told me: "Mom that is not who you are, you are a woman who loves God and shows me God".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That is what I hope we can offer all those who have had to experience abortions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have the mind of Christ in many things, but I do have an everyday relationship with him for the past 47+ years. I know He loves me in spite of the decision I made all those years ago. I know His complete forgiveness. I know He has used my pain to show others how much He loves and delights in us. I know that Jesus doesn't advocate abortion; believe me I KNOW.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I also know that it isn't my right to judge others, to put my beliefs on them. I know that GOD calls me to love all and respect them as His children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Matthew 7:1-2 in the New Living Translation says:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others.The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May we not judge but love.</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-28470818293049935162019-01-01T12:43:00.001-08:002019-01-02T08:35:13.161-08:00SO LONG 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHpQraXlf3a9SGRyHJdDD6KTgPtK94-mmu979TnO7fgr3hBpR4DCkwSCb1sHNxLIIdl6niIus3lhtEpZ8WjBVNFTihD1shEtJZRuL-vdnJMEyqFP3Y1OoWDMvmBB9y0AbDr6pxBthYqKW/s1600/2A1074A9-AF96-4B3F-9D3C-21CFEA7F0171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHpQraXlf3a9SGRyHJdDD6KTgPtK94-mmu979TnO7fgr3hBpR4DCkwSCb1sHNxLIIdl6niIus3lhtEpZ8WjBVNFTihD1shEtJZRuL-vdnJMEyqFP3Y1OoWDMvmBB9y0AbDr6pxBthYqKW/s320/2A1074A9-AF96-4B3F-9D3C-21CFEA7F0171.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
As we begin a new year, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to it.<br />
2018 was a very different, and often hard year. But there were also many blessings.<br />
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2018 brought about an extensive surgery for my 7 1/2 yr old grandson to try and fix his hip. He had been diagnosed with Perthes disease in 2015, but instead of getting better as the doctors had hoped, it progressively got worse, necesitating the surgery. After 3 months, it looked like the surgery had failed, but after 6 months, there was marked improvement and it looks very hopeful.<br />
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My sweet mother-in-law, who suffered from severe dementia and Alsheimer’s went home to Jesus on June 5. As we travelled to Texas on June 6, we got word that our son Todd and his wife Katy, had just become parents to a little girl named Maggie Jo. A full circle of life in a mere 24 hours. So many conflicting emotions followed but grateful for the life of Eloise Scudder, because without her, I wouldn’t have met or married Scud, my partner and love of my life.<br />
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Early in the morning of June 30, Scud woke me up to tell me he didn’t feel well. He had never done this in our 42 years of marriage and he reports that I sat up in bed and asked, “Are you having a heart attack?” Well, it turns out he was. Thankfully we had an ER doctor as the camp doctor that week, and along with our 2 EMT’s, he was life flighted out of Woodleaf at 2:30am. Two very dear friend at camp then drove me to the hospital.<br />
Scud had a 100% blockage of his main coronary artery and some blockage in 3 of the others. The cardiologist placed a stent and told me that he was “glad you took the helicopter and not the ambulance”. I was glad too.<br />
Quite honestly, the next 6 months had me living in fear, that it would happen again. That this time, we wouldn’t have an MD close by. All sorts of fears besetted me, while Scud changed patterns in his life by getting exercise, losing 20 pounds and being so grateful to be alive. I purposed that I would not start 2019 with fears and with the LORD’s deliverance, I am anticipating what’s next rather than being afraid that I might lose Scud at a moment’s notice.<br />
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2018 was yet another year to watch my daughter who suffers from the debilitating, chronic illness of Ehlers Danlos, to get sicker and sicker. to have 3 procedures of a blood patch to reduce spinal fluid leaks, to other procedures trying to allow her digestive system to work. It is a constant battle to one minute trust God for what He is doing in her life, to agonizing over watching her suffer. I truly believe in a GOD who loves her way more than I ever could and trust HIM with giving her what she needs day to day. But it is struggle.<br />
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2018 also brought about some significant losses. Dear friends in Texas lost their son in a terrible car accident, had a dear sweet friend move and lost the best boss I ever had as he took a new position in Young Life. And we are enduring the loss of a family members marriage that has been so hard for all of us.<br />
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It is definitely in the hard time of above that I realize God’s faithfulness to me. Begin to understand that HE is ALWAYS with me and that I am never alone. I realize that He loves me and those I love with unconditional love and that His plans are often beyond my comprehension, and YET, He knows what He is doing. I have grown deeper in my love for the LORD because of how HE has held me in supported me this year (and always for that matter!)<br />
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But oh there were blessings too. Numerous and wonderful. The picture at the top is the favorite one I took on our “bucket list trip”. In October, we went back east for 2 full weeks visiting dear dear friends and seeing the spectacular fall colors of New York and Vermont. There wan’t a day when we didn’t say to each other: “can you believe this beauty” or God is certainly the brilliant artist”. The colors were incredibly beautiful and you should plan a trip east-especially us Californians because we never see these amazing colors here.<br />
A HUGE THANK YOU to the Hazard’s, Morgan McGhee, YL Saranc Lake and the Kane’s for hosting us.<br />
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Even in spite of Scud’s “event” as he refers to his heart attack, we had another incredible year of summer interns who worked tirelessly, one particularly in the middle of the night, without complaining and serving Christ very sacrificially. And another HUGE thanks to the Freemyers for their invaluable service in loving these amazing young adults.<br />
Being an Intern Boss has always been the highlight for me of living at Woodleaf. What a privilege it has been to know and love thee young adults over12 summers. I have learned so much from them and been incredibly blessed being one of their leaders. I truly thank God for the blessings of the college aged kids who have served faithfully over the years. I turned in my resignation by word of mouth in December, that my time has come to an end as one of the leaders. (This time its real WINTERNS). After last summer, I realized how precious life is and I want to be able to see my grandkids more and visit friends too.<br />
One other blessing that brought home the preciousness of ife was achieving 5 years of being cancer free this past September. THANK YOU LORD.<br />
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One of the highlights of my year was being chosen to participate in Young Life’s Good Way Cohort. We started in October meeting for 2 days and will meet again for 3 days at the end of January and April. The purpose of this time is to teach us and help us be more contemplative, To listen and not speak as much. To be silent and try to listen very carefully to what God ha to say to us, without us (me) doing all the talking. This is something I have longed for -for quite some time.<br />
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Although 2018 was different, it was also very very good. My two biggest blessings were that God spared Scud’s life and that we have an adorable little girl who actually looks like a Scudder in our family after 3 amazing little boys.<br />
My prayer is that 2019 will draw each of us closer to Jesus Christ and that we will become the person He envisions us to be.<br />
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<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-22309153928164560052018-03-16T11:23:00.000-07:002018-03-16T11:31:31.354-07:00HOPE and ENDURANCE.<span style="font-size: large;">The world today is a far different one than what I grew up in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I was in college, in order to look up anything, I would go to the library and ask for periodicals to find research, or go to one of the many encyclopedias that were available.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder today, if people in their 20's, or 30's and even those in their 40's have ever heard of periodicals of literature?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today if you have a question, you just ask Siri or look it up on your phone or whatever device you are using at that moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The technology advances we have today are incredible. I am so mystified at what is available with our fingertips.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet I wonder if it is all good. Have we lost the art of communicating? How easy it is to text or snap chat or tell your Instagram story. But do we talk-really talk to people? In surveys conducted, it is known that the generations of Millennials and now Gen X'ers would rather talk via text than on the phone or in person.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For the older generations, we can get puzzled by that. So often in texts or emails what we mean to convey is misconstrued by the receiver. Words are misunderstood, and too often what was meant to be said, is now completely read in a different way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I digress. My job as Coordinator of Prayer and Resources for Young Life College/University has me praying for our Young Life College staff, that they would become men and women who radiate Jesus to the college students they befriend and the world around them. That by their very lives, they would convey a person who is quite different from others. I pray that they would seek Jesus throughout their days and that they would be the ones who welcome others regardless of their views on life, their religion, their sexual orientation, their politics etc. I pray daily for our staff and consider it a privilege.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also as the Resource person, read quite a bit, so that I can recommend books to our staff on all types of subjects. (YL website under leader tools, YLC and Build). The more I read, the more I realize that there are many different sides on many different subjects. Which causes me to return again and again to the premise that in our discipling or mentoring, we need to go to the Bible first and foremost.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Romans 15:4 states:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "For everything was written in the past was written to </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> have hope."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Young Life, we believe that the Scriptures (the Word of God) are paramount to our faith. The words found in the Bible are the inspired words of God. (2 Timothy 3:16). They are TRUTH. So we, those of us in leadership positions must teach God's truth. In order to teach the truth of God from His Word, we too must be reading the Bible on a consistent (hopefully daily) basis. Seeking to know more of God, more of His pursuit of us, more of His love and grace to us, and more of His instructions and commands to us. Because as Romans 15:4 states, the Word of God was written so that in times of trial and testings, the times of doubt or sorrow, we might be encouraged and find the hope that we desperately need.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But what if we don't know the Word? How then can we encourage others to endure through the hard times? We <b>must </b>be in the Bible for it truly gives us the HOPE of JESUS. The hope that we are not alone, the hope that we will endure, the hope that only can come through Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Bible is not just some men's different opinions about God, the Bible is the inspired word of God. All of it, not just the parts we like; the Bible is not a smorgasbord where we get to take and choose what we want to believe. It is all truth-every single word that is written. That is why we, as the leaders of Young Life College must be diligent in pursuing God's truth. Our college friends believe what they read and what others tell them. Everything they look up on the internet is truth to them. And not everything is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe that we need to be spending time with them in God's truth, either directly talking about what we are reading or doing a bible study that is written by a trusted source. We need to be encouraging them to view the Bible as one of the major resources in their lives, because God will never misdirect them. And obviously we need to remind ourselves of this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Again and again, I will always stress the importance of God's word. I read Psalm 119 a few times in the year to remind myself of what God says about His Word. This entire psalm is about the significance and importance that God puts on His Word. Maybe it is time for all of us to read it today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NOTE: Although this was intended for YLC/YLU university staff, it is for all of us.</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-71594267828697717252018-03-09T11:38:00.000-08:002018-03-09T11:55:41.909-08:00THAT BAD PART OF ME<span style="font-size: large;">How many of us have regrets about something we have done? In our teen years, or while in college? Or as we started into the working world? Or in our marriage or raising of our children?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to believe that none of us have lives that are perfect; have never hurt anyone, or brought guilt on ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I , for one, have several of those incidents in my life of 65 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WE all have stories of our lives. And we are told our stories need to be told, that no one’s life is meant to be alone. But how many of us in telling our stories only tell the good parts, the parts that make us look favorable to others? The ones that convey the successes and victories in our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In reality, the stories of loss and failure, of shame and guilt, of misunderstanding and regrets are the stories that need to be told. Those of us in ministry need to be vulnerable with our stories to our fellow followers of Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We need to hear THOSE stories because we need to know that we aren’t the only ones who have failed, who could have done better, who should have known better. But that we have experienced the love and forgiveness and compassion of a GOD who desperately woos us to know that we are His Beloved.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But also, the people who do not know Jesus need to hear our stories that we would rather not tell. They need to hear of the forgiveness and grace of God as much as we do. In fact in the book of Romans it says:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Romans 8:19</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How many people are out there living in shame? Not wanting their stories to be told because they live in fear of their consequences? How many of us NEED to hear that there is a God who deeply loves us in spite of what we have done? Who longs to comfort us and heal us of our past and often times our present as well?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was one of those people. I had plenty of things I was living in shame with. And I often wonder why God would allow these things to be used for His purposes in spite of me and my choices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I was a party-er in high school and part of college.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I was a 19 yr old girl, who in living in fear, chose to have an abortion instead of marrying the guy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I was the mom who yelled at my sons, accusing them of ruining our perfect Christian family, and watched them run away and be distanced from me for a number of years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I am one who can be quick to speak and hurt deeply others by my words- those who were my dearest of friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I am one who judges others too quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am also one who has received the endless grace (the favor of God that I never have deserved) and forgiveness of God. I can’t even begin to describe what it has meant to KNOW and EXPERIENCE God’s love and forgiveness of me. But I do know that no matter what I have done, what I might do, God still loves me. Still loves me as much as He loves you-you with the regrets you wish no one knew.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Those are the biggest wrongs of my life that I mentioned above, but believe me there are many more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why has God used me with college kids for years? Because I can tell them that there is NOTHING in all of Life that can separate them from how much God loves them. How much He wants them to know this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And what about you? Doesn't your story need to be told? Don't you have good parts and bad parts that need to be shared? To let God use your story for His purposes, for His Glory?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember, all of creation waits expectantly for the children of God to be revealed; so that they might know that we are like them: flawed, mistake making, living with regrets and guilt, but ones who know the love and forgiveness and grace of the GOD who wants to do the same for them.</span><br />
<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-70612879005457962692018-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:002018-02-12T11:08:55.693-08:00BEST ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was twenty-five and pregnant with my first child.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was privileged to be in a Bible Study with what was then called the Divisional Director's (now is called a VP) wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recie was one of a kind. Her eyes always sparkled, her face always welcomed me with a smile so big. She turned fifty the year I met her and it was two years later that she gave me the best advice I ever heard.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had been a follower of Jesus since my sophmore year of college. I had been to church, had been in some Bible studies but it wasn't until I met Recie, right after I was married and been invited by her to join a bible study for Young Life wives, that I realized just how important God's Word was.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Recie taught me that God's Word is alive; that it will always be relevant in life-no matter what is going on, whether in my life or in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recie was a phenomenal gardener. Her yard always was exquisite. Her flowers were incredibly beautiful and full of variety. She worked hard getting the soil ready and discerning the best spot for plants or her flowers. My favorite spot was her strawberry patch. Oh my, those strawberries were amazing. Ripe and so sweet to the taste and there was plenty of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I remember going over one Saturday to pick some. I was nine months pregnant and ti was a warm June day. As I picked my way through the patch, I asked Recie what was the best advice she could give me as a new mom.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was completely surprised when she told me:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Ask God to give you a LOVE for His WORD".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was expecting something to the likes of: nap when the baby rests, pray in the middle of the night feedings. So you can imagine my surprise with her advice. Recie then told me to pray frequently this advice. For someone who walked with Jesus for thirty years longer than me (and before I was ever even born), I knew she meant what she said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So for years I prayed and asked God to give me a LOVE for his Word. Mind you this does not happen overnight and one must put some work into it. One must be in His Word on a regular basis to have this happen; it's not going to happen by osmosis.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Probably ten years went by and I prayed this prayer a few times a week, when all of a sudden, I realized that I truly did have a love for God's Word. My days felt somewhat off if I had not been in the Bible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recie Raley was right. Having a love for the Word of God has by far been the best advice I ever received. The Bible comforted me in times of extreme sadness and confusion, gave me HOPE when it looked like there was none. The Bible shows us God's Truth, His path towards righteousness, points out where we are wrong, and challenges us to inspire to be more like Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It has stood the test of time, it is always relevant. It always points us to God and convicts us where we need to be convicted. It doesn't change as the times change. It remains the same; like God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The best advice I could give you or anyone is the same that Recie gave me:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Ask God to give you a LOVE for His WORD".</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-13862606017967357002018-01-08T16:59:00.002-08:002018-02-12T11:08:55.633-08:00NOTES TO MYSELF- Goals Goals Goals2018. Already 8 days old.<br />
This is a year we need to :<br />
<br />
<br />
PURSUE GOD. First and Foremost<br />
<br />
Be Kind to ourselves- we tend to be our worst enemy<br />
Be Humble- it is NOT always about you.<br />
Be Gracious- people need our grace to them, as much as we need God’s Grace to us.<br />
Be Gentle- we don’t know what everyone is going through.<br />
Be Forgiving- because we ALL need forgiveness.<br />
Be Vulnerable- don’t hide behind what you think others think you should be.<br />
Be Honest- then you never have to wonder “what did I say before”<br />
Be Brave- we all just need to be brave<br />
Be Loving- always. To all that we meet<br />
Be a Listener- people have their story to tell us.<br />
Be Patient-Because we all need to practice that.<br />
Be Resourceful- find what you need and go after it.<br />
Be A Dreamer- keep following your dreams.<br />
Be a Reader- there is so much we need to know and experience through books.<br />
Be a Giver-whether its your time, or your money or your skills.<br />
Be a Helper-who of us doesn’t need help at some point.<br />
Be an Encourager- lift someone up who needs it.<br />
Be Thorough- do your best each and every time.<br />
Be Joyful-even in the worst of times, we still can have joy.<br />
Be Truth- tell your story, even the hardest and worst parts. Someone needs to hear it.<br />
Be Grateful- Each of us has so much to be thankfulf for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
DON’T :<br />
Be judgemental- you judge others often for what we see of ourselves in them.<br />
Be a gossip- because it ALWAYS HURTS.<br />
Be Bored- LIFE is anything but boring.<br />
Be Proud- being boastful is unbecoming.<br />
Be a Grumbler- It doessn’t help anything.<br />
Be a Cheater-Sometimes it might get you ahead now, but our actions always catch up with us.<br />
Be a Miser- give to those who are in need-there are so many around.<br />
Be Self absorbing or Selfish- it is never attractive.<br />
Be Lazy- There are others who would love to have your gifts.<br />
Be Someone you aren’t- be yourself<br />
Be Complacent- Use your skills and gifts to benefit others.<br />
Be Stagnant- we all need to keep moving forward.<br />
Be Negligent- do what Needs to be done.<br />
Be a Stranger- People need you.<br />
Be Racisit- Hate never wins, we are ALL equal in God’s eyes.<br />
Be a Hater- it will just make you miserable.<br />
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I wrote these in less than 10 minutes. As time goes on, I will add to them. But I am encouraged to start this new year with a fresh start and this goal list.<br />
<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-58336913747490896772018-01-06T10:10:00.000-08:002018-01-06T10:10:39.710-08:00DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?<span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember the childhood game of Telephone? One person would say something, could be a phrase or a joke or possibly an abstract sentence and they would whisper it in the ear to a person, who would then whisper it in the ear of another person, and down a line of people. When the last person hears the phrase or whatever it was that was whispered, they say it out loud. I would venture that 99% of the time, it was NOT the same as what the first person said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We would crack up that this sentence could get so muddled over a short period of time and yet in ways not always understandable to us, we do this often throughout our days and lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often when you are in a conversation with someone, that they say something and you completely misinterpret what they mean?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or if there is more than two people in a conversation, there can be multiple versions of what was said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This seems to happen frequently in my marriage or with my children; I will say something and they will take it in a way that it was not meant. Communication skill takes quite a bit of effort and we often don't speak what we intended to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why is that? Why do we hear things differently? Is it because as we listen, we are trying to conjure up a response? Why do we have two ears and one mouth, and we tend to use our mouth more than our ears? Often I am so guilty of this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Having been an RN for 31 years, I often would tell patients to have someone with them when a doctor is talking to them, because too often, as in the case of a cancer diagnosis, you <b>HEAR </b>the word </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"cancer" and your mind tunes out and you become so quiet because all you hear is cancer, and your mind goes in overdrive. To have a family member or friend present, who will take notes, so that nothing is missed is invaluable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often do we read God's Word to us and misinterpret it? His Word is most often the way God talks to us. I have read the Bible through each year for so many years but how many times do I read something and think to myself: "wow, I have never seen this before". And I know I have read it because I read the Bible each year, but this time a word or sentence or paragraph leaps out of the page and touches my heart and mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often do we disagree on the Bible's interpretation? Churches have split, people have left their faith because of something they heard. The biggest example of that today is the LGBTQ issue. Many have attempted to discern what God is saying and there are two huge differences of opinion. This post is not about that, it just is such a prevalent topic nowadays and ways we interpret what we read that God says.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But do <b>WE REALLY SEEK TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO US?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Genesis 3 is the familiar story of the account of the first sin on our earth. God had told Adam and Eve not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil but that they may eat of any other tree. He also instructed them that if they ate it "they would die".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Along comes the devil, disguised as a serpent, and described as "more crafty than any of the wild animals God had made". And he questions Eve by saying:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "<b>Did God really say, </b>"you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Eve responded by saying:"We may eat from any tree in the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> garden, but GOD did say "You must not eat fruit from the tree </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> that is in the middle of the garden and you must not touch it or</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> you will die."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Right then and there is the first communication misinterpretation in our world. God specifically mentioned the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And He never said anything about not touching the tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So Satan, the enemy of God, being so crafty asks the question: "Did God really say?". His tactic to make her question what God said, was unfortunately for all of us, a tactic that worked. The serpent then proceeds to tell Eve that surely she would not die, because if she ate the fruit, her eyes would be opened, "and you will be like God, knowing good and evil".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of us know what happened next. Eve ate the fruit and then gave some of it to Adam.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> they were naked,...and made coverings for themselves."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How wonderful it must have been not knowing you were naked, and having no shame in that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often are we lured by satan's lies of "Did God really say?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We won't know what God has said if we don't spend time reading His words to us</b>. How can we know what God is saying if we aren't in the Bible? How often do we misinterpret the Word of God because we want to believe it says what we want it to say?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Again I bring up the LGBTQ issue. I have searched mightily for God's answer on what He means. I have read commentaries and many books. I have looked up words in the original Hebrew or Greek. I have prayed and prayed that God would show me His truth. What I have come up with is that God wants me to love ALL of His children, regardless of race, sex, sexual preference. Is it OK for gay people to be married in God's eyes? <b>I don't know.</b> For some reasons known only to God, He has not chosen to reveal to me what His answer to that question is. I know both sides of how people feel, but do I know God's thoughts? I know some of them but do I have His final say? I do not. And I am not sure any of us do, although many seem to think they do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Being in my mid-sixties and having followed Jesus for 46 years, I still know I have barely scratched the surface of knowing God completely. But what I do know is that the most reliable way for me to hear His thoughts and words the majority of the time, is to <b>be in His Word-reading the Bible daily if at all possible.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because if His enemy (and ours) tries to trip me up by saying : </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>" did God really say?", </b>I want to go to His Word to see what He really said. I know I may interpret it wrong in my mind and heart, that is why I begin each time of reading the bible praying:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">" Guide me in your truth LORD and teach me" (from Ps 25:5) and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Open my eyes LORD that I may see the wonder and beauty of your law" (Ps 119:18).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I continually ask God to reveal His truth to me and I hope that you will to. <b>We need to hear what God says and not others view of what He says.</b></span><br />
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<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-30402897353968736452017-09-10T16:47:00.002-07:002017-09-21T10:01:13.427-07:00 A WEEK OF MILESTONES,MISERY AND MEDICARE<span style="font-size: large;">Oh September. You are month of milestones and memories for me. But you also have caused untold mishaps and misery for millions of our human family in Houston, Florida and Mexico. And today is only the tenth of the month.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today marks a milestone for me. Four years ago today I had the first of two surgeries that were six days apart for Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Anyone who is told " You have Cancer", has a multitude of emotions. I was like the countless millions who have heard this diagnosis; scared, confused, anxious for a time and then coming to a time of acceptance and the fight that fuels from inside you to fight this however you can.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I used to think that having thyroid cancer was the easy one of the cancers. UNTIL three days post op, my surgeon called and informed me that I had the type of thyroid cancer that could metastasize and I would need a much more extensive surgery. The second one took 4 1/2 hours and took part of my hypothalmus along with a sizable amount of tissue. Not to mention, the "J" scar I have from the top of my ear to midway around my neck.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Four years later, I still need two pillows to sleep. I still get occasional nerve pain and am still mostly numb around my scar. I also have had my thyroid replacement hormones switched multiple times trying to get a range that will keep me in a normal rythum. That still has not happened. I have suffered so much insomnia and have gained weight. But as I reflected this morning, I AM ALIVE.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am so grateful that God has given me these extra four years. I have seen both of my sons marry and became a grandmother for the 3rd time. I also got to celebrate my 2 other children (from another mother) get married and one even had a baby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have continued in my job in Young Life College; and now I get to work for national and international YLC as the Coordinator of Prayer and Resources.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have gotten to witness hundreds of kids stand up and say they began a relationship with Jesus each summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I indeed have been blessed by being given more years to live!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One more milestone this week is I turn, what I have come to call " Medicare" age. How the he** can I be 65 years old? What the What? That really makes me a senior citizen. (well the one plus is all the discounts of these so called "seniors"). Why don't I feel 65? Do I look 65? This is <b>way more weird</b> than turning 60, which I absolutely hated. Now I have two insurances, so in case I get hospitalized, I wont pay a cent. Sheesh. This is crazy. Can I still be a contributor to society? to Young Life? This Medicare card has caught me in a conundrum of thoughts. Well, lets face it. I can do nothing about this milestone. Just try and embrace the facts. And also be thankful. Sixty Five years is twenty more than my mom had. And its been a good life. Ups and downs. Joys and Sorrows. But I have been sustained by a Faithful, merciful and loving God. That is what I must reflect and meditate on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh but September, you have created havoc on our world. Between the end of August and today, you have had two Category 5 hurricanes hit our soil and do incomprehensible damage to the city of Houston and surrounding areas, and today your Irma tore through Florida to major cities and we don't know the extent yet, of the damage but the estimates in Florida already are over 200 Billion dollars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My heart has ached for the devastation in our country and <b>then</b> there was an 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, where hundreds have died and destruction looks catastrophic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The incredible meleé caused by the horrific 185 mile per hour winds is almost hard to really comprehend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where are you GOD?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do YOU care? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do YOU see?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WHY?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How many of us have asked any of those questions?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I truly believe these "forces of nature" have grieved God's heart too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What is the purpose? Why do these things happen?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am no meteorologist. I don't understand much about seismic activity. So I have no answers to these questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I am almost sure that God didn't "cause" these disasters because Trump was elected president or that being gay caused this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't believe with all that is in me, that the God I love and serve, works like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">YES, HE did in the Old Testament.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But we are two thousand years past the death and resurrection of Jesus who loved us so much, He was willing to suffer and die so that we might be reconciled to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, I believe that as always, God welcomes all of us, ALL OF US, to His Table. All can come and feel loved and accepted no matter what their nationality, no matter what their race, no matter their sexual orientation, no matter their color, no matter their financial position-the poorest of poor and the richest of the wealthy, male or female-WE ALL ARE WELCOME!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our world is a HOT MESS.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Natural Disasters, wars, poverty, racism, exploitation of many in the sex trade, sickness and disease, mental illness-which often results in people taking their own lives, drug and alcohol addiction, marriages in trouble, parents abandoning their children and spouses, families not speaking. Not to mention despicable evil rulers around the world, and people in America having the least regard and trust in the president than any previous president in our nations history.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">YES, our world is a mess. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Obviously I have a faith in God and I often wonder if this is the beginning of the times when soon we will see JESUS return to earth as He promised?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have the answer to that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What I do know is that in the midst of turbulent times, I believe that God, the Sovereign ruler of the Universe, is still in control. That ALL of our times are in His Hands, not man's, not nature.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The peace that brings me is indescribable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am praying that you know this peace as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you don't , I would be happy to talk with you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Keep your prayers and thoughts on Florida, Houston and Mexico, no matter what you believe. We are all brothers and sisters in the human family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-55723413748360994322017-05-24T14:37:00.000-07:002017-05-24T14:37:32.103-07:00GETTING RID OF THOSE PESKY WEEDS, In your garden and your life.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Spring is finally here in the mountains!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For most of you, spring has been here for quite awhile now. Not where I live. Oh, we've had occasional days of sun and warmth, maybe for 3 days at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For one week now the weather has been glorious, and the temperature slowly warms, making for one happy gal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I absolutely love to garden. Getting my hands dirty, pulling the weeds, preparing the soil, and then heading to the nursery to buy the annuals, the vegetables, the fertilizer and plant food. It's my idea of creativity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the ten years I have lived in the mountains of northern California, my goal is to have everything done by Mother's Day weekend. Except for the one year our youngest daughter was married ( 7 years ago yesterday). We were done planting at the beginning of May so that things would be blooming by her wedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This year though, we had 96 inches of rain. Yes, I mean 96 as in four less than one hundred. So picture in your mind the amount of weeds that that amount of rain could produce. LOTS. Well, <b>way more</b> than lots. I have more weeds than I have seen in the past few years combined. That would be due to the extreme drought California has endured, but thankfully this years over abundance of the wet moisture, ended our drought!! I can take longer than 5 minute showers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to my gardening escapades. Because we had such a wet fall, winter and spring, I am just now beginning my gardening for this year. Today was my day to tackle the weeds. A few weeks ago I asked my dear husband to spray the weeds where I typically plant all my flowers. He is so sweet and did that almost immediately. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, he sprayed many of my perennial flowers as well. Seriously I cannot blame him; I don't think I would have seen the difference. So this morning I began the process of getting rid of the weeds and the plants that had been doomed to death with the weed killer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Silly of me to think it would take a couple of hours. I started at 8am and worked until about 10:15, until the sun was completely shining on the place I was working. Due to an unusual type of thyroid cancer, during my second surgery, half of my hypothalmus was also removed. This organ regulates your body temperature, and having only half of mine, I have become much less tolerant of heat and I tend to get overheated sometimes rather quickly. (this doesn't bode well for our Kauai vacation in September). So because of this pesky complication, I can only garden now in the early mornings and evenings. Given the amount of rain we have had, the mosquitos are also in overabundance, so the evenings are pretty much out as those pests love to get to my blood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But the WEEDS. They are EVERYWHERE. I was overwhelmed before I pulled a one. There is this one type that lives here in the mountains that I never saw living in a city. This one is actually always low to the ground, but grows underground with roots that you pull up sometimes almost a yard long. They flourished in my flower area. Maybe I weeded half of the space today before I got too warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Weeds always remind me of the many flaws and sin I have in my life. Those areas where I think I have made progress ridding myself of my problem attitudes, but before I know it, they reveal their heads again and cause me to further stumble. Just like the weeds I began to pull up today, I know those suckers will return and I will try and stomp them out again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Extreme weaknesses that I have seen repeatedly in my life are judging others and jealousy. Oh I can't even tell you how often I have confessed my sin of judgmentalism. Why do I think I can cast judgement on others and what they say or what they do? It is <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>the</b></span> sin I would love to eliminate more than any other. And I can admit, that I have gotten much better as the years have gone by- for crying out loud, it should, I mean seriously, I am now in my 60's. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jealousy keeps popping up its ugly head from time to time, just like those damn weeds. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why can't I have that house?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why does she always look so good?'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why do they get to go there?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why can't I write like she does?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why can't I have the money she has?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"why are they so successful in their ministry?'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Blah blah blah. Always wishing I could have what others have. Why can't I be so grateful for what I do have?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A husband who loves me and is faithful to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Four kids who have turned out well and have amazing spouses.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Three amazing little boys I get to be Grammy to.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Friends that I wouldn't trade the world for.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Involved in a ministry, working with a boss and team that is beyond fantastic.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">God has enriched my life with so many blessings and gifts. I need to cherish them as much as I get enjoyment over the flowers that will event</span><span style="font-size: large;">ually be planted and bloom.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Life is like a garden. We all need the pulling of our weeds in order for God to have us bloom where we are planted. It is never easy work. We will always get stretched and might feel the sting of the pulling; but HE knows this is what needs to happen for us to produce a garden that aligns with His character.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next time you go to pull the weeds in your garden, maybe ask God what weeds He needs to pull out of your life to make His garden of your life as beautiful as He always envisioned you to be.</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-4603652545953069482017-01-25T09:38:00.002-08:002017-01-25T09:41:13.164-08:00TIME TO WITHDRAW<h2>
I realized this morning, that it is time to withdraw.</h2>
<div>
Are you at all like me, and the news that has transpired in the past week, has perhaps traumatized you? That you get sad and angry, frustrated and confused?<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Five days into the Trump presidency and I am upended. I don't know what to do. The mostly repeal of the Affordable Health Care Act (aka: Obamacare) was the first thing that got me reeling. I was an RN for 31 years. It wasn't until I became a home health nurse that I saw the huge disparity in the care of patients. When you had good healthcare coverage, you were allowed extra visits. When you were on Medicaid, you got one visit. I was horrified. People who need Medicaid (Medi-Cal for us in California) do not have the money for health insurance, are living in the below poverty level; they barely have enough money for food and clothing and shelter. It was in the early 1990's when I began to consider that universal health care or national health insurance was something we needed. I learned that most of the world's countries all provided health coverage to each citizen. I wondered why we didn't.</div>
<div>
I know that in the early stages of the Clinton administration, that they tried for this and failed. </div>
<div>
Then came Obamacare and I was grateful that then, everyone could get insurance. And yes, it was very confusing and the computer servers crashed, but the outcome gave millions of Americans the access to healthcare that they needed. President Trump's repeal of most of that was the starting point of my frustrations.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The thing that has upset me terribly is the news that today he will order that there are to be no refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan allowed into the United States. These countries have been known to have people enter the country, and some are ISIS proponents here to recruit.<br />
The President also tweeted that "we will build the wall"<br />
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<a href="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/statue_liberty1a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=664&h=996&crop=1&strip=all" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/statue_liberty1a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=664&h=996&crop=1&strip=all" width="213" /></a></div>
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Yes, I know that there are HUGE numbers of people that have entered our country illegally at the borders between Mexico and the United States. I know it has caused a tremendous financial cost to us the US taxpayers. I admit that I have no idea of why the people of Mexico cannot enter our country legally; perhaps there is a yearly quota.<br />
What bothers me is that there is <b>NOT any ONE of us</b> who live in the United States that is here because someone in our family tree came here to better their lives. To be free from oppression, whether it be for religious reasons, to escape the taxes of their countries, to try and give their families a better start in life. Do we not profess that: We are the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave?<br />
Trump wants to use money from the Homeland Security Department to fund the building of the wall.<br />
As I sat on the edge of our bed this morning with tears streaming down my face lamenting to my husband on the unfairness of all of this, he reminded me that this is why our country has checks and balances. Donald Trump is the President of the United States but HE IS NOT THE CEO. He cannot sign things into law without Congress's approval, and even then if someone files a lawsuit, it could be overturned by the Supreme Court or appellate courts.<br />
<br />
I have been a follower of Jesus Christ for 45 years now. HE will always be the ONE I have my allegiance to. Way ahead of my allegiance and love for the United States of America, is my love and devotion to Jesus.<br />
I have a friend and some of my family who I asked if they wanted to join me in reading the Words of Jesus this year in the four Gospels. (you can read about it here:http://missyscud.blogspot.com/2016/12/join-me-with-jesus.html) and this morning I was reading in the 4th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. This is the chapter where Jesus is led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil. In the first temptation, the devil tells Jesus to make some stones become bread.<br />
Jesus answered: It is written: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the LORD". (Matt 4:4). From the very start, <b>Jesus emphasizes how the WORD of GOD is of primary importance.</b> Which once again confirmed to me, that I must be in the Bible, that my choice to just read the Gospels this year so that I can see the Words of Jesus is of upmost importance.<br />
<br />
Later on in the chapter in verse 12, it is said that Jesus withdrew to Galilee after hearing the news that John the Baptist was imprisoned. There are many instances in the four Gospels that Jesus withdrew by Himself to be with His Father. I have to surmise it was to get His Father's instructions, His Voice, to confer with Him on the big decisions that were coming, when his ministry depleted Him and He needed spiritual refreshment on His human side.<br />
<br />
If Jesus needed to withdraw when things were taxing on him, why wouldn't I also need to withdraw?<br />
To be with Him. To hear His Words. To seek His advice. To listen to Him, and be able to pour out my heart to Him in things where I need clarity, or wisdom, or just to be with Him and tell Him why I am confused or frightened; to bear my heart and soul to the Only One who fully knows me and still loves me in spite of who I am.<br />
So I am withdrawing to be with Jesus. From the news, from Facebook. I need to pray for our President. I need to pray for our country and the world. I just need to be with Jesus.<br />
Don't you?</div>
Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-11329904552337460292016-12-28T13:16:00.000-08:002016-12-28T13:16:50.673-08:00JOIN ME WITH JESUS<span style="font-size: large;">Over and over and over again for the past month, GOD has been getting my attention.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of focusing on the election (yet again) or being fearful of what a Trump presidency means, or getting so frustrated that my husband has limited my time to watching the news, I am being reminded that it is JESUS who I am to follow. Who I am to obey. Who I am to serve.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It has never been about me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It has been and always will be, ALL ABOUT JESUS.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is so much going on in the world that breaks my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So much that can terrify me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Between the refugees from Syria (now over six million have been displaced from their homes), the sex trafficking all over and the atrocities being committed against women and girls and young boys, to the heinous dictators (or leaders) in Syria and North Korea and Russia, and the so many I don't know about, I can become totally paralyzed with fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I choose not to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead I choose each day to pray and ask God to intervene, to protect His children. And although I do not see the answers to my prayers right now; I know that the ONE who created life, who created us, will one day soon, have HIS way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am choosing the word "<b>FAITHFUL</b>" for my word this year. It has been on my heart and spinning through my mind for a month now. I had been planning to write this blog all day and just now read a blog by Sarah Bessey, a much younger follower of Jesus who has challenged me over the past several years and she too chose the word, FAITHFUL (http://sarahbessey.com/my-oneword365-for-2017/). I guess great minds think alike!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>FAITHFUL</b> to GOD and what He has called me to be: His servant in this world, to be <b>obedient</b> to what He has asked me to do. To <b>pray</b> for what He has put on my heart. To <b>give</b> to where He leads me to give. To be a <b>LIGHT</b> that shows others the reality of living a life following CHRIST. To <b>TRUST</b> Him in the midst of my uncertainties. To be mindful again and again of the <b>HOPE</b> He gives. To <b>CLING</b> to Him, <b>no matter what.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NO MATTER WHAT</b> I hear on the news or what I read online. No matter what happens to those I love. No matter who is president. I am called to be <b>FAITHFUL to my GOD.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One way that I can be faithful is to listen to His Words, to let sink in His way of life. So for the year of 2017 I am going to read the Gospels each day. I did this a few years ago and it was incredible to hear and soak in just Jesus' words. Because they are always TRUTH.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will read one chapter a day. It takes about 3 months then to read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This way I will read through the Gospels four times this year. Each time I will read it in a different version. Most likely I will use the NIV, the Message, the NLT and ESV.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The gleanings I will receive each day will be immeasurable. I remember when I did this last, that I was so surprised each day that the LORD would speak to my heart in a new way and remind me of His truths.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have tried to follow Jesus for 45 years now. I have read through the Bible over 25 times. I know the Gospels. I know the stories and the miracles. I have heard them since attending parochial school as a child. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But when I come with an expectant heart each day, Jesus reveals Himself to me anew.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I would love to have you join me in this endeavor. To soak up the words of Jesus each and everyday in 2017. I think I can guarantee that you will be surprised and grateful at the end of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When we get our perspective from <b>JESUS,</b> our fears will lessen. We will be more focused on Him, on what He wants and His will.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And as I've said before, "Its all about Him and not us".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It will change how I (we) think, how we pray and hopefully how we think and how we act. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I for one, NEED to do this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What about you?</span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-63944760991152520772016-12-04T14:11:00.000-08:002016-12-04T14:11:49.183-08:00Trying to Turn over a New Attitude.<span style="font-size: large;">Oh this month. What a ride! Not necessarily a fun ride, but one that has had more downs then ups, and one that won't be forgotten soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The presidential election has left half the country so disheartened, questioning everything that has transpired.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am one of them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I could not, would not, vote for Donald Trump if he had given me all his money. More than anything, I am absolutely confused and baffled by those who say they are followers of Christ and voted for him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How do you vote for a man who wants to build a wall across the border of Mexico and the United States? Who wants to throw out anyone who is a Muslim? Who says he wants to change the immigration Laws? ( mind you, he has had 2 wives who are immigrants). Who changes his mind on issues like women change their clothes? Who tweets unbelievable things? Who has groped women and boasted of it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This man is definitely someone who does not resemble Jesus Christ to me. As I have pondered for a month now, I have wondered if those who proclaim to be a follower of Christ, and voted for Mr Trump, actually have an american worldview of Christianity? The kind of view that believes we are superior to the rest of the world and that we don't need to be concerned about "them". I do not believe that 81% of white evangelical Christians voted for Trump; they didn't poll me or so many of my friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to admit, a Trump presidency scares the heck out of me. He is so irrational at times, speaks without thinking often, and bullies so many people. I thoroughly believe that God remains in control and that many times I often do not understand His ways. This may be the end of the US as a world power and that may be part of God's plan, but I have chosen to trust Him in spite of my fears.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I read the book of Nehemiah from the Old Testament. It is the story of how one man took a risk and asked a king for a favor so he could re-build the wall in Jerusalem. The reason the wall needed to be rebuilt is that the Jewish people had continuously disobeyed God, discarded His commands and pridefully thought they could run their lives better without Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sounds so much like us in the United States today. We were founded as a country granting religious freedom. We included God when our country began and today, we are much like the Jews of old; we think we know better than God, we discard His views on loving one another and we wonder why His favor does not rest on our country anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Nehemiah 1, he writes:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span>When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> mourned and fasted and prayed to the God of Heaven"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Is that what we need to be doing? Can the answer to our anger and grief most likely can be found in prayer and fasting? I am beginning to think it is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not so that we could change the results of the election (but maybe we could change the electoral college-oh sorry, I could only wish), but maybe in prayer and fasting, in trusting God with our questions, our fears, our extreme disappointment, we might gain His perspective. And I for one, need it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What if each of us who almost despaired in the days following the election, set aside a day or two to fast and seek God and His will, and to hear His Word. Because if you are anything like me, you have heard too much from what the world is saying, getting riled up reading the news, looking at social media and being disgusted. What I need to hear, and most likely you too, is the TRUTH. And God's Word has always been and will always be the truth. We need to hear from the ONE who created life, created us and who holds all of us together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Further on in Nehemiah 1, the prophet writes:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"I confess the sins we the Israelites (or us americans), including myself...have committed against You. We have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> acted wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> decrees and laws..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This stopped me this morning. Why do we think we God would bless America, when we don't listen to Him or follow Him? I am like Nehemiah, just as guilty. I have disobeyed, have acted wickedly, and now is the time to repent. For myself and for my country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2 Chronicles 7:14 states:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble them-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> selves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> sin and heal their land."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is what we, as followers of Christ need to do. <b>WE need to humble ourselves. We need to pray and seek God's face. We need to turn from our sin-our pride, our anger,our holier than thou attitudes, our judgmental thoughts, and ask God to forgive us.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then and maybe then, He will begin to heal our land.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because we NEED HIS HEALING. We have said things we should not have said, we have been angry and NOW is the time for us to start the process. WE, who profess our faith, who say Jesus is our Lord, need to begin the healing process. To release our frustrations and our fears and to TRUST God, that He is the ONE who does the healing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">NOW is the time for us to be humble. To drop the accusations and to just do what He requires of us. To love others, regardless if we agree with them or not. To show kindness-to EVERYONE. To be respectful because this is exactly how Jesus is to each of us. And to be forgiving, because WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO ACT LIKE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-29979863695240626702016-09-26T10:07:00.000-07:002016-09-26T10:07:38.102-07:00 AVERY HEAVY HEART and a REQUEST that you SHARE this.I was born in the 1950's and grew up in the 60's when the Civil Rights movement really became a focus once again.<br />
<br />
I was never aware that I had so many advantages being born white in America.<br />
I have never been looked down on because of the color of my skin. I have never been pulled over because I am a white woman who "looks suspicious".<br />
<br />
I grew up where Negroes (as the African-Americans were called then) were a part of my life.<br />
The foreman on my father's construction company was to a young girl, the biggest man she had ever seen with the largest hands imaginable. I didn't know he was different. We had a Black housekeeper, who when my mother died, we had to beg her to quit working and sit down and be with us.<br />
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I remember watching the news when James Meredith wanted to enroll at the University of Mississippi and had to have the US Marshall accompany him, so that he would be the first Black admitted to a university in the south-ever. I remember last year being at Ole Miss, requesting my friends to take me to the administration building where it all started, and saw with pride the statue of James Meredith on the Ole Miss campus.<br />
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I remember being at my grandmother's beach house when the Watts Riots started. I remember asking why this was happening. I just didn't understand as a ten year old what would cause this.<br />
I remember when Martin Luther King Jr was murdered. I was a sopohmore in high school and I marched in downtown Palo Alto with my friend Nancy. I was devastated that a man who wanted to promote racial reconciliation was gunned down by a white man.<br />
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I remember my father building two apartment complexes in East Palo Alto for the Black people at an affordable price in the 1960's.<br />
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I imagine I have always been a civil rights advocate in my own life.<br />
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As a follower of Christ, I believe firmly that God has created all men (and women) equal. That we have no color in His eyes; that He sees us just as His children. And yet for the past year, my soul- the deepest part of me that is true, has been at unrest at the racism in our country.<br />
For the past 3 months I have been with such a heavy heart of what has transpired in our country.<br />
I began praying everyday for racism to be obliterated. I have been asking God what I could do. What can I, a white woman in my 60's who lives in the middle of nowhere (seriously, I live one hour away from the 3 closest towns) can do.<br />
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I came to the realization that politics won't fix our problem. That communities can do what they can, but will it only be for their particular city.<br />
Only the Church of Jesus Christ can begin the process of reconciliation in our country.<br />
Do you know that as of today (September 26th) that 703 people have been documented deaths by police in this year alone? and that 173 Deaths have been Black Americans.<br />
Believe me, I am not condemning our policemen. I like the police; they protect me. I realize that there are good cops who deeply care about the people they protect (they are the overwhelming majority) and there are bad cops as well.<br />
<br />
But it TIME WE DO SOMETHING. It is time for the Church in America to lead the change.<br />
This morning I read in a book by Tony Evans, a Black pastor in Dallas, about fasting.<br />
When our prayers don't seem to work or produce the change we need, we need to consider fasting.<br />
<br />
I am not famous. I will never be one of the bloggers who has thousands of followers. But I am a woman who follows Christ with all that is me and I want to be obedient. Today, I feel like God has begun to answer my prayer for racial reconciliation.<br />
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I am asking you who follow Jesus, to share this post.<br />
I am asking that on Sunday October 9, 2016, Followers of JESUS across the country to fast and pray for the racial tensions to end.<br />
Fasting, according to Evans "is the abstinence from some form of physical gratification, for a period of time, in order to achieve a greater spiritual goal." Tony Evans goes on to say that in fasting, "you deliberately show God that you are serious about getting His attention and that you are intently listening for his voice". When we choose to fast, we choose God and His word over our own physical appetite. We see things with greater clarity when we fast because we are seeking God and His answers , instead of our own. When we fast, we choose intentionally, to come into God's presence for His wisdom.<br />
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What if on October 9th, The Black Faith Community joins with the White Faith Community across our country, and we fast together, pleading with God to change the course of what is happening in our country in regards to race. What if we ask heaven to move mountains so that God's purpose is carried out on earth.<br />
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What if 53 years later, the end of Martin Luther King's " I have a Dream" speech spoken at our nations capital can begin to come true.<br />
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I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."</div>
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I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.</div>
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<b>I have a dream that we, the followers of Christ can make a difference.</b></div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">
<b>Will you join me On October 9th please?</b></div>
<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-35590192716691966742016-08-31T12:00:00.000-07:002016-08-31T12:01:49.570-07:00AWAITING NEW PROMISES<span style="font-size: large;">I was almost horrified this morning when while talking to a dear friend, I realized that tomorrow is September 1st.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not that September 1 is a bad day, it is just that it crept up on me without even thinking about what that day signifies for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Twenty years ago ( or maybe it was 19 and this will be my 20th year), the pastor of the church we attended, informed us that he prays a particular verse for each of his family members.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so impressed with this idea, that I began searching for a verse for each different family member. I believe he told us about this endeavor the first weekend in September.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So now for the 20th time, I will begin to look for verses for our family members. When I started it was just the six of us. Now with spouses for each child and three adorable grandsons, I will be finding 13 different verses for each member of my immediate family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can almost guarantee you that it will take me the entire month to find them; unless by some "miracle", the LORD gives me these verses more quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Truly it is an amazing time searching through the Bible looking, wondering, deciding (with the Holy Spirit's guidance) which verse is for which person. This allows me to see Scripture in a whole new light as I get to review verses from the past that have ministered to me when I deeply needed them, see verses that I had chosen for family members at different times in their lives, and be grateful again that the Word of God is still so relevant</span><span style="font-size: large;"> for today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I often have wondered why the LORD would lead me to a specific verse for someone, but have believed that <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">this indeed was </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">THE</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">right verse, even when I didn't understand; only to be amazed and grateful as the year went on and the reason was made clear. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This year will be the 20th year I have prayed verses for my family; specific verses for each particular member. It has been an honor and a joy to do this. It has helped me memorize Scripture; although I must admit that I can't always tell you where it came from (book and verse), I do remember the actual words of the verse.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I was taken aback this morning that today was the last day of August. On the other hand, I am totally excited and looking forward to the month of September ( I always love this month because it is my birthday month!) because I am awaiting the new promises God will give me to pray for my family members.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When my kids were in school, they always started in September, that doesn't happen much these days, when so many schools begin in August, which is why I always pick my verses in September. It was the beginning of a new school year and a perfect time for me to reflect on challenges they might face, milestones that could occur, and wait for God to reveal His particular word, for each of those that I love the most in this world.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is a beautiful thing to see how God works through the years. It is an even more splendid thing to see God work in the lives of your family and watch them become who He has envisioned them to be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My encouragement for you today is to find verses for your family. It may take awhile. You may not be able to do it now for the season of life you are in. But if you can do this, not only will your family be blessed, you will be blessed as you watch God's Word come alive.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A very special thank you to Dave Sawkins for this wonderful idea!!</span></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-69061463904410839692016-06-11T18:39:00.000-07:002016-06-11T18:39:12.018-07:00Displaced. Replaced. Misplaced. What to do next.<span style="font-size: large;">How many times have I lost my keys, or really misplaced them.</span><div>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often do I reach for my glasses and can't seem to find them?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or how often have I followed directions on my "smart phone", only to be totally lost?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Realistically, I could not give you a number for any of the above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But what if your mind doesn't work the way it used to, and you forget people's names, or tell your children the same story yet again? Is my mind being misplaced? Or is it displaced? I am not quite sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if you had a job that you were successful at for years and all of a sudden your boss walks in and says: "I've decided to go a different direction", and no further explanation was given? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if your spouse walks in your home one day, and says "I'm done, this just isn't working for me anymore."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if you answer the phone in the middle of the night and hear the words, "there has been an accident"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or the doctor calls and says "I need to see you today. Your results are in". (for the record, if you get a phone call like that, it is never good news; great news can be conveyed on the phone).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if your child who has been exemplary all their life, gets in trouble with their friends and you wonder, "where did I go wrong?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do we do in times like this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have choices; yet how and what we choose determines how we deal with change.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to admit that I kick and scream (not loudly, more in my mind) long before I ever get to the acceptance stage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our choices in how we respond tremendously affects us.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately for me, so often I react instead of think and act. It has caused me some tremendous heartache in my life. And how often I wish I could backtrack and respond differently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could be like some friends of ours. The grace they show and extend to others totally blows me away. One night they received the tragic news that their youngest son had died. They told their family but kept the news from the rest of us for over 24 hours, until we could celebrate the blessings of sixty years of Young Life in our city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am amazed and caught off guard by the grace and love and concern for others this couple felt in the midst of the worst day of their lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if we all reacted like them?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What if we showed grace when it wasn't deserved?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And isn't that just what grace is. Undeserved favor and blessing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Exactly what Christ offers each of us every single day of our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if the job we had been displaced by, the partner that replaced us, the things we lost and misplaced, could be seen as opportunities for us to respond the way God envisions us responding?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I ask myself, Is that even possible?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is. But only if we involve Jesus in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The times when we most feel like lashing out are the times when we just need to be quiet, to sit in the hurt, the pain, the bitterness and let God begin to transform our minds and our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite verses to meditate on is Romans 12:2a.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The New Living Version states:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> world, but let God transform you into a new</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> person by changing the way you think."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh my, forty plus years of walking with Jesus, trying to be who He sees me to be, and yet I am still holding on to my ways far too often. I so desire for Him to transform my thinking. But I must make the conscious decision to turn to Him immediately when my world has been rocked. Slowly, very slowly, I am letting this happen, but why did I not realize this decades ago?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So when life throws you curve balls that were so unexpected, and it always will do that because who plans for tragedy, and job loss and a divorce, or a wayward child, practice turning to God before you say a thing, before a word leaves your tongue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Cry out to God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keep your mouth shut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Listen. Keep listening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss what HE has for you in this trial and pain that snuck up on you. One thing I have learned and know for sure: GOD NEVER WASTES THE PAIN in our lives. He will use it to transform us, to encourage others, to bring Him glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's the one thing I tend to forget most often; I am here to bring GOD glory. It is all about Him, not me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So in those deep hard hard moments, cry out to Him before you respond. He is there, waiting for you. It won't be easy but you will never be alone.</span></div>
Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-101689141933363342016-04-21T15:12:00.001-07:002016-04-21T15:13:56.520-07:00Oh My Weeds<span style="font-size: large;">Spring brings life to the dead of winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Winter living in the mountains results in completely dead grass, grey skies, dreary days and long nights. Wood burning stove heats the house and frequent trips to the wood pile to re-stock the wood, reminds one again that winter is in full swing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The torrential rains that were desperately needed, produced an over abundant collection of water in the lakes throughout our county; which in turn furnished the landscape with the lushness of greenery as the calendar moved forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spring is by far my most favorite time living in these hills east of Sacramento. The colors of green that decorate the landscape are such a contrast to the nothingness of winter. And then, the sides of the roads became brilliant with the bright orange of the poppies. Everything along the drive to town and back brings smiles. The cows grazing on the fresh and abundant grass, the goats and sheep wandering the countryside, the horses cantering along an open field. Different bushes illuminated with shades of purple and fuchia are amazing to behold.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With the arrival of spring, everyone begins to think of planting and updating their gardens. It is very hard to begin planting before May when you live at an altitude of 3200 feet. As I looked at our yard today, I thought it was about time to start weeding.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever realized how weeds <b>can take over everything?</b> It is almost as if you pull one up and you see one hundred more. As I was beginning the weeding process today and feeling a bit overwhelmed at the magnitude of them, I stopped for a moment and contemplated how weeds often look like the sins in my life that keep popping up. Just when I think I have destroyed one part of ugliness that seeks to dwell in my life, it rears its ugly head; exactly like the way you pull the week up from its root and weeks later it comes back.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I have often contemplated how gardening reminds me of my relationship with God. I weed and plant and water and wait for the harvest of beautiful flowers and sweet tomatoes and strawberries and various herbs and vegetables. I imagine that God does the same with me: weeds the awful things that cause me to not be the person He envisions to me, and then plants more of His life into mine and waits to see how I will re-produce His Grace into the lives of others.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Those nagging weeds also reminded me today of the doubts that keep coming back trying to de-rail my relationship with my Creator. I can walk along smoothly for a time, seeking and enjoying the fellowship of Jesus, when all of a sudden-out of nowhere, the nagging questions re-surface wondering where God is, does He see what is going on, how long will He allow me or someone else to suffer, or wonder what the heck He is up to.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am in one of those times right now. I know that God is good. I know He cares deeply for me and those I love, but I read some of the Psalms where people cry out to Him and He answers them and I wonder why He won't answer me. Does He not hear my cries of desperation?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know He does. My doubts are the weeds that keep showing up. Even when I carefully watch over my garden, weeds still come back, making sure I know that there is more work to be done. Those weeds that remind me of my sin and resemble my doubts that keep showing up, are ways to keep me grounded to my Savior. I can't take care of them on my own, just as the weeds in my garden do not disappear on their own. I know I need help to work through these times. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These are the times when the enemy of God would like me to walk away, to fall into the trap that God doesn't care, that He is never there for me when I need Him to be; but I know different. I know and remember that God has shown me His faithfulness for over Forty-four years. He has shown up when I couldn't get up. He shows up in my husband who understands me in these times and hugs me with words of encouragement. He has shown up via my friends who have cared and prayed for me, He has shown up in phone calls and texts and emails. He has shown up in His Word. I just have to keep at it-even when I don't feel like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Like the pesky weeds that try and take over my garden, I have to keep weeding them out. So the same applies to the sin that keeps creeping back or the doubts that resurface, I have to do my part and wait for God to do His.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Not ever easy. Not ever fun. Always worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-28702027807411484232016-03-28T17:17:00.002-07:002016-03-28T17:17:42.614-07:00An Unforgettable 72 Hours<span style="font-size: large;">So much life can happen in just 72 hours. Who can fathom going from celebrating, to a profound sorrow and deep grief, to again having HOPE that can carry one through anything? That is what my last weekend looked like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday evening Scud and I were absolutely privileged to attend the 60 year celebration of Young Life in San Jose (now known as Silicon Valley Young Life). For over 30 years, we were immersed in this wonderful ministry in San Jose. From being on staff, to being volunteer leaders, to serving on the Young Life Committee, we spent the first 30 years of our marriage, doing whatever we could to reach the adolescents in San Jose so they could hear the best news they could ever imagine by speaking the Truth about Jesus Christ and how much He desires to have all of us know Him and the love of His Father.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was truly a remarkable evening put on by the YL staff in San Jose, the committee of capable and industrious </span><span style="font-size: large;">adults, the amazing YL leaders and so many of the kids we try to reach.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was quite the nostalgic evening, and tears slipped out of my eyes, realizing how extremely blessed we have been, along with our children, to serve in this ministry, along with some truly incredible people who have become our life long friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I went to be with the most incredible grateful heart and truly thanked God for what He has done in the past 60 years in San Jose and what He will do in the next 60 years of Silicon Valley.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning I received a phone call telling me of the heart breaking news, that dear dear friends had lost their 28 year old son in a horrific series of events.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I have learned too many times how fragile and precious life is and that we will never be certain of the number of our days. I, along with countless others, grieved deeply for and with this family. It is not supposed to be like this. Parents are not supposed to lose their children first. Having been a pediatric nurse for a number of years, I have seen this occur way too often.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My heart aches and breaks for these dear friends, and for their large extended family. I ache for the one surviving friend of a trio of childhood best friends. I am sorry for those of you who never got a hug from Sammy, who never knew his gentle spirit and generous heart. I can't fathom what his family feels, when my heart grieves too. I can't get them off my mind and heart. All I can do is pray for the peace that transcends all human understanding and for God to comfort the family and to bring others to comfort and walk with them through this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Okun's are the first thing on my mind each morning and the last thought and prayer I have at night. I don't understand such tragedy; none of it makes sense. I know this is not how it is supposed to be. This is never what God intended for any of us to experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday was Easter. That is where the HOPE comes in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I stated that this is never what God intended, it is because when He created the world thousands of years ago, He envisioned perfection and peace. When Adam and Eve were deceived into believing the devil's lie, that they could be as smart as God, sin entered the world, and from then on life was no longer perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But God couldn't let sin take away His love for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He had a plan. God the Father would send His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to take on our sin so that we might again, be able to be in the relationship with God that He had always planned on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Good Friday is really more than good. It is the Best Friday, because Jesus died for our sins that day over 2000 years ago, and because of His suffering and death, for those of us who know him, we will be able to spend eternity with Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday to me, is always the "in between" day. In between the reality of Jesus dying for us, in between the silence, the doubt, the questions, the grief, He knew that Sunday was coming.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On that very first Easter morning, Jesus Christ conquered death and defeated his enemy forever. He gave us the hope that how it is supposed to be will happen again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The HOPE that all our tears will be gone, that the sadness and grief we experience here on earth, will barely be remembered. The things we have suffered and endured, will not matter. What will matter is that we will be with God for eternity. And THAT IS THE HOPE I am clinging to. The HOPE that I count on. The HOPE I believe with all my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The HOPE that Joan and Dave, and Andy and Christina and Daniel, and the Davis family and all the DiSalvo's will someday be reunited with Sammy. The peace that they long for, will ALWAYS be present.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am grateful to know that Sammy is with Jesus right this minute. He is at peace and living eternally with the God he loved deeply.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Someday, I will see him again. Someday, the way it is supposed to be will be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For all the emotions that we have experienced these past few days, for all the emotions still to come, I pray that all of us will cling to Jesus Christ. He alone will be our Peace. He alone will sustain us through the grief. I am so thankful for the HOPE; I would be lost without it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">PS Sammy give Robby a hug and Robbo give Sammy a hug for me.</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-26554977377299449482016-02-02T11:28:00.000-08:002016-02-02T11:30:32.771-08:00PROMISES PROMISESOh how I remember promises.<br />
As a child, when your parent promises you something, you believe that what they are saying will happen.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise I will pick you up and not forget you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise that if you do not pick a fight with your sister, that I will pay you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise that if you improve your grade, you can drive the car again."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise I will not miss your game. (or your performance).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise I won't drink that much again."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I promise I won't hit you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What happens when we do not get what we are promised?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our faith in the person crumbles a bit. If promises are never kept; we learn not to trust what they say..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But when promises are fulfilled, we are delighted. We believe and our trust is not challenged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One promise that was broken to me was when I was a senior in high school. My dad promised that he would not miss my high school graduation. My parents had officially divorced in my junior year, but to me, it seemed like an amicable divorce. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved my dad. I was definitely a "Daddy's girl."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad was an alcoholic. I think that was what tore my parents marriage apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't remember my dad making many promises to me, but this one I remembered because he had moved from northern California where we lived, to San Diego.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course I expected him to be there. Isn't that what parents do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What I didn't know is that his new girlfriend (who he eventually married, and later divorced) had a daughter who graduated the same night I was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When he didn't show up, I remember being hurt. And sad. But as a high school-er, I was more into what was going on in the life of my friends, than my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It was years later that I realized how much that really hurt me. It appeared that my dad chose her daughter over me. I remember asking him about it just once and he apologized profusely. Maybe its that over 45 years have passed, and that hurt is forgotten and forgiven that I don't care about that anymore. What I realized from that occurrence, is that I didn't want to break promises to my children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The promise that our home would always be a welcome home for their friends was broken in my anger and own brokenness. For that, I am always going to have remorse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder how many of us have never had a promise broken to us or who we have never broken a promise that we made. In the year of a political election, I am very skeptical when the candidates promise things. I think they say what we want to hear-just to get our vote.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the fourth chapter of Romans, it says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping- believing that he would become the father of many nations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact his faith grew stronger and stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do what He</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> promises." New Living Translation (Romans 4:18,20-21)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For those of you who do not know the story, God had promised that Abraham would have an heir, a son who came from his own body. It was well past the time that Sarah, his wife, was of child bearing age. In fact, Sarah when unable to conceive, had Abraham father a child through her maid. But this was not what God had promised. So years later, many years later, when Abraham was one hundred and Sarah was Ninety, she gave birth to their son, Isaac.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wait, What?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Didn't I just quote Romans saying that Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, yes I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For almost positive, I would have wavered, I would have had many periods of doubt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">" Did God really say that? Did he really promise me?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Abraham never wavered. In fact his faith grew stronger and stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that happened because for me having doubts and struggling with my faith, always ends up in me growing closer to God. In fact, I even wrote about it this past summer (<a href="http://missyscud.blogspot.com/2015/08/doubt-lament-and-learning-to-surrender.html" target="_blank">http://missyscud.blogspot.com/2015/08/doubt-lament-and-learning-to-surrender.html</a>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Doubting God always seems to make me draw nearer to Him after I have struggled through whatever it is that I am doubting. Wondering if He is indeed Good, all the time. Wondering if He hears me. Wondering if He cares. Wonder if He sees what is really going on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the main lessons I have learned in following Jesus is that He does not break His promises. Ever. God's promises are always true; always come at the perfect timing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hebrews 10:23 says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> God can be trusted to keep His promise." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">People make promises and break them. Sometimes on purpose; sometimes unwillingly, sometimes without even realizing it. Because of that we get dis-trustful, have doubts, become angry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">People will always fail us at times. Even the most perfect spouse. Even the most obedient children. Even our most trusted friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">God is the only one who will <b>NEVER </b>break His promises to us. He is the ONE who will <b>NEVER</b> fail us or forsake us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>O Lord God, help me, help us to believe like Abraham. To never waver and to always believe you</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-61393451736000850532016-02-01T13:34:00.003-08:002016-02-01T13:50:18.185-08:00No news is GOOD NEWS-except for ONEFebruary 1st marks the start every year in the United States of Black History month.<br />
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I care deeply about racial reconciliation between Blacks and Whites in the US.</div>
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I don't pretend to understand anymore what my Black friends have endured. For awhile, I thought I knew; but in reality, I have <b>no</b> clue of what it is like to be targeted by police because of the color of my skin. I have no relatives that were slaves. I can't fathom the injustice of having "white bathrooms" compared to "Colored bathrooms". Or faucets that were ear marked for Whites or Coloreds. Or that Black citizens were not allowed to vote or enter a public university.<br />
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Growing up in California, all this was mind boggling to me. Why did the South mistreat Black people because of the color of their skin? Why did slave owners basically rape the Negro women on their plantations? How did Christian churches go along with this?</div>
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And why for the love of anyone is this still an issue?</div>
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Recently I began reading, "<b>Between the World and Me</b>" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/</a></div>
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For a white woman, this book has been very hard to read. I can't even begin to explain the guilt, the pain, the outrage I have experienced in this book, and I am only half way through. It really opened my eyes to see that " I just didn't get it". I thought I did, but no, I don't.</div>
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My heart breaks and aches as I read the pages, and am reminded once again of all the evil in the world.</div>
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I need to remember that there is evil in the world, because right now, the world is the domain of the enemy of God. As my heart ached this weekend of reading of Boko Haram's latest ambush of a village in Kenya that took the lives of 86, to reading of a Virginia Tech student who killed a 13 year old girl that he met online and preyed on her broken heart from the bullying she received at school because she was a little overweight and had scars on her body due to a liver transplant. I am aghast at what goes on. Imagine surviving a liver transplant (which is the hardest transplant to endure), only to be bullied at school for the marks it left on your body, and then losing your life to a sadistic and twisted individual.</div>
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I read this morning of a Taliban suicide bomber killing 20 people at the police station in Kabul.</div>
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So in case you might be disagreeing with me about the evil in our world, these are just three brief stories of what happened over our weekend.</div>
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BUT THEN...</div>
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I began reading the book of Romans this morning. This book in the New Testament is the gospel wrapped up in 16 chapters.</div>
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Even with all the evil in this world, there is <b>HOPE.</b></div>
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There is <b>ONE</b> who came to set us free from the lies, the distortion, the accusations that we are never enough, that we will never amount to anything, that our life is hopeless.</div>
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The devil has been after us from the time Adam and Eve were the first to be seduced into his lies. To believe that they could become just like GOD. That God was holding out on them. And he has been after us humankind, distorting the truth, ever since.</div>
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There is so much just in the first chapter of Romans that I was overwhelmed this morning.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> "Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> ... to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them so</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">How great is that? We, who know and believe in Jesus, get to tell others about Him. To share with them that there is<b> HOPE</b>. That things can be <b>DIFFER</b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>ENT</b>. That we are LOVED and<b> CHERISHED</b> by the God who pursues us, desires us and loves us wholly beyond our comprehension. We have the privilege of sharing this GOOD NEWS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet, I wonder why we don't do it more. Is it because we are afraid of how people will respond or how they will then perceive us? This news That JESUS CHRIST came to earth, to die for us, so that we can be restored into the relationship with God the Father, that we were always meant to have, is <b>THE BEST NEWS </b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">we could ever tell anyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the Black population in America, this news transcends the crushing blow of racism. JESUS came to save all of us; skin color was never even considered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the Nigerians, that have been brutalized, been killed and lost family members due to the atrocities committed by Boko Harem, can be comforted by the words in Romans 2:2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> " And we know that God in his justice will punish anyone who does such things."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The horrific acts committed by those who murder others <b>WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a GOD who cares deeply for us, so much so that He sent His Son, His Precious Son, to take our place, for paying the price of all the things we have done wrong, so that we might know again of His love, His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness, His un-ending Grace, to all those who believe in His Son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My prayer is that evil will be obliterated. That racism would end. That injustices that are being committed all over our world would be done away with. That is written knowing that the chances of this happening in my lifetime are miniscule, but knowing that with Jesus, there is <b>ALWAYS HOPE</b>, and that we each are given the opportunity and privilege of telling others, telling anyone, telling everyone of this Hope.</span></div>
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Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-74900967663074497692016-01-26T15:29:00.000-08:002016-01-26T15:29:09.784-08:00Freedom in ForgivenessWhy is that when life throws me lemons, I don't make lemonade.<br />
I make a mess. A mess of me and often times, others.<br />
Instead of adding water and sugar and maybe a hint of mint, I tend to add anger, that can lead to bitterness, I add judgement and doubt. Then to make matters worse, I plan retaliation or maybe just my come back answers.<br />
<br />
Oh LORD, help me.<br />
Help me Listen to YOU.<br />
Help me cry out to you, instead of lingering in the anger.<br />
Help me to hear it is that YOU want to say. To ask you what is you want me to know.<br />
<br />
I want to learn from others who have been in similar situations.<br />
I want to find someone in the Bible who relates to my messiness.<br />
I desire to honor you, even in the midst of pain and sorrow.<br />
I want to pray for those who mistreat me, who malign me, who make me feel like I don't matter.<br />
Because that is what YOU did, Jesus.<br />
You prayed for those who persecuted you.<br />
As you lay suffering and dying on the cross, you said,<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> "Father,forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is in forgiveness, that we can be free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the anxiety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the anger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the bitterness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the pain that wounded us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from being judgmental.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free from the consuming thoughts of revenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is what I desire. What I ask God for throughout my day</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to be the person who learns the lesson quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unfortunately, it often takes me much longer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that God understands me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that He wants me to know He is there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that He can relate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that He can forgive me. Over and over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news is that this is the Gospel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came to bring me back to Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came to restore my relationship to the Father.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came to restore relationships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came bringing healing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came bringing Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came bringing His Forgiveness to me-for everything I have ever done wrong, and everything I still will do wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That Jesus came to bring GRACE. His unending mercy, His undeserved love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">GRACE is what brings me back to Jesus. Time and time again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">GRACE is what I am basking in at this moment. Relishing His love and Forgiveness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">GRACE is what makes it easy for me, but cost Jesus everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So when you make a mess, instead of a message, when you kick and scream, instead of remaining calm, remember the Good News of Jesus. He came to set the captives free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-33648808478336611562015-11-23T09:55:00.000-08:002015-11-23T09:55:30.639-08:00QUESTIONS<span style="font-size: large;">I have gone through life asking many questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why this? Why that?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How come? When is it coming?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How much longer?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Life is full of questions. At times, we receive answers, and other times, the questions remain unanswered.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have ever lost a loved one, whether it be a family member or a dear friend, you wonder why? Why now? Why them? That kind of question is most likely not answered. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for why things happen. They just do. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We can't anticipate or plan for certain events that happen to us, or to someone we care deeply about. Oh how we wish we could. To have a heads up would be nice, wouldn't it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The world throws things at us that we never expected. We watch cruel and inhumane things happen to our fellow brothers and sisters throughout the globe. We wish we could help. We would do anything to alleviate their pain. We can send money for relief efforts but we would rather be there on the ground helping out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Life is unfair. Scott Peck, in his book, 'The Road Less Travelled" begins with the sentence :"Life is difficult". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, who would want to keep reading after that start. Yet, millions did. I imagine that if we lived by thinking that life was difficult, that when bad things happened, we would just remember and venture on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> For me, it has never worked like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I remain surprised, filled with angst and act as if I believe something so terrible could never happened. I've lived through </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">John Kennedy's assassination, and his brother Bobby. I was horrified when Martin Luther King Jr was gunned down. I actually was watching as the Challenger exploded. Was glued to my TV when the towers were hit. Felt grief stricken watching the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina devastate lives and land. Was shocked to hear the 200+ girls taken by Boko Harem in the middle of the night. And now, countless deaths at the hand of ISIS.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, Scott Peck was correct.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But now what? How are we to respond? What are we to do?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where do we turn?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The only place I can turn in times like this is to THE ONE who created life, God. He might not give me answers. But I guess I can hurl my anger, vent my frustration, question why? Wonder if He saw or cares? That in itself gives me some kind of comfort.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But where do you go? How do you make sense of the terrible things, the loss of loved ones, the failure of your marriage, the rebellion of your children, the loss of your job, the death of your dreams?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We all need that place of safety.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have this picture in my mind, that when I am so upset or hurt, that I become the little girl I remember and climb up into God's lap and just let him hold me. I don't picture God specifically, its just the safety and protection that He gives to me that brings some comfort, some solace.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus says:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> "<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Do not let your hearts be troubled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Trust in God, trust also in Me."</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who do you trust? Who do you turn to? Who comforts you? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where do you find the peace you so desperately crave?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you don't have a place to go, may I suggest you give God a try?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grab a bible. If you don't have one, go online to www.biblegateway.com and look up the Gospel of John.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Start reading at the beginning and hear the Words of Jesus, who is the Son of God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Then you can decide if He is worth trusting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In these troubling times, the one thing I can vouch for is that this won't hurt, and for me and countless others, God and Jesus is where we find our peace. </span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-59018031249312163472015-11-19T10:50:00.000-08:002015-11-19T10:50:47.279-08:0044 and Counting<span style="font-size: large;">Forty-four years ago, while driving home from college for a long Thanksgiving break, I made a decision that forever altered my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was the BEST decision I have ever made bar none.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">November 19, 1971 will forever be etched in my mind as the day I asked God to take over my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was raised in a Catholic family. So I always knew about Jesus. I never questioned that He was the Son of God or that He died for my sins. I knew that I was a "sinner" since I was a young girl when I would do some not so nice things to others and was aware of my own selfishness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What I didn't learn from the Catholic church is that Jesus wanted to be involved in my life <b>EVERY SINGLE DAY. </b>This was news to me. And even more astounding is that I would no longer have to go to a priest to confess my sins seeking forgiveness. I could go to God Himself. That was so comforting to me as I was at the stage of life where I was partying and beginning to dabble in sex. Not having to see a priest look at me, wondering what he was thinking always bothered me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My walk with Christ has changed over the years. It has evolved, just as I believe we all evolve in becoming who we are.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The one thing that has never changed is His consistency and faithfulness to me. God has always been there. Usually for me, when I don't "feel" His presence, it has been me who has moved and not God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have learned to experience God in the mundane of my everyday life and also in the traumatic times. God has upheld me and comforted me through the deaths of both of my parents. He was with me when I lost 4 babies by miscarriage. Understood my pain and was present when my children experienced heartache, rebellion, mental illness, the desire to end a life. Christ gave me strength to be present for my best friend when she lost her son. Jesus has always been present, whether I knew it or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The blessings He has poured on my life are too numerous to count, but a marriage to a man who pursues Jesus and loves me is at the top. Having four children who as adults are trying to follow Christ each day and who marry spouses who do the same is the second and most important. The grandsons-well don't get me started on them; they are truly the joys of my life. The life long friends I have known are my support system, my people; the ones who are with me in the greatest moments and the worst. I could not imagine my life without them. The friends we have made through Young Life, whether it be staff friends, leaders, committee or my college buddies-they have each played an enormous impact on my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two careers, one in nursing that allowed me to minister and care for hundreds, which will always be a part of me and the other working with college friends, trying to impact their lives to journey with Christ over a lifetime are gifts that I will bring with me wherever I go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have changed in these 44 years. My faith has shifted and changed. I see that as growth in becoming the woman that God envisions me to be. Things I once held true, no longer do. What I have learned is that <b>no one</b> can tell me exactly what my LORD thinks about certain controversial topics. We have the Word of God and are to pursue the mind of Christ, but what others say is not necessarily God's thoughts. My goal is to pursue Jesus, seek His wisdom, ask Him for direction. I may or may not receive answers in this lifetime and I have learned to be ok with that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have learned (finally) to go to Jesus first in most things. That was awhile in coming, but whether or not I hear directly from Him on matters that weigh heavy on my heart, at least I am confident that He hears me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you know me or have read anything I have written, this will not surprise you to hear again that I absolutely love the Word of God. I never get bored reading it, probably because before each time I read the Bible, I ask God to show me more of Himself to me. I assume that this is a prayer He answers, because every single day I am impacted by His Truth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, these 44 years have been a journey. Sometimes the road is flat and straight and everything is peachy keen. Other times, the road is winding, full of curves I cannot see around, and is very scary. The thing is: it always straightens out again after a period of time and my breathing becomes easier once more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The constant in this 44 years is Jesus Christ Himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I cannot fathom my life without Him. I shudder to think where I would be or what I would be like. I know that I am never alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That fact centers my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you LORD JESUS for allowing me to know you, to walk with you through the many ups and downs of my life, and to be loved by you now and through eternity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THAT IS MY GREATEST BLESSING</b> and the hope that keeps me grounded.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">44 years and counting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179927130434516277.post-4684280518775036612015-11-18T14:19:00.002-08:002015-11-18T14:20:13.595-08:00WHAT DID HE SAY??So much has been written already.<br />
So much more will undoubtably be written.<br />
Some of it is truth and some of it is propaganda-fueled by fear, by not wanting our status quo life to be interrupted.<br />
<br />
Yes, Paris was <b>horrific</b>. What happened is a tragic loss of so many lives. Did they deserve it? <b>Absolutely NO.</b><br />
And as with Paris, there was despicable events in Bagdad, Beirut, Nigeria and other places. There was the catastrophic loss of lives in the Russian Aircraft that was hit.<br />
All these events clearly have pierced my heart.<br />
<br />
I am at a loss. I do not understand the evil that ISIS does. I know there is much hatred to the West, and to the United States in particular. I understand that they believe we only care about ourselves and our comfort; that we are capitalists and materialistic.<br />
I also acknowledge that I am no expert whatsoever on Islam and the Muslim religion. What I do know is that over 90% of Muslims around the world, also abhor the atrocities that these jihadists partake in.<br />
<br />
What has bothered me in the past two days is the amount of governors across our country who now refuse to have the Syrian refugees enter their states.<br />
Whether we admit it or not, <b>everyone of us, every single person in the United States is here because someone in their family tree, came to this country seeking refuge.</b> Seeking better lives for themselves and their families. Being able to worship the God they choose freely.<br />
<br />
Now all of a sudden, much of the Republican presidential hopefuls are saying that no Muslim refugees are welcome. Some say only Christian refugees are welcome. One candidate says that none are welcome.<br />
Oh please don't forget where you came from. You are here because either you or someone in your family wanted the freedoms the United States offered.<br />
<br />
I have a friend who wrote a blog about what a follower of Christ should be like in this time of global unrest.<br />
<a href="http://frankpowell.me/christians-golden-rule-syrian-refugees" target="_blank">http://frankpowell.me/christians-golden-rule-syrian-refugees</a><br />
What Frank says here is what I truly believe Jesus would say to us that profess to put our faith in Him.<br />
<br />
It truly breaks my heart to see fellow believers want to keep these poor, driven from their homeland people out of our country. Is this really what Jesus would want? There is <b>NOTHING</b> that you can tell me that would make me believe that the God who created us all, would want us to turn our backs on these refugees, who have lost everything they own, plus often family members trying to escape the regime of Azad.<br />
What if that was you? What if that was me?<br />
Would you turn me away because I didn't believe in the same God you believe in?<br />
<br />
This morning in my Bible (the ESV) I read from Luke 6:<br />
<br />
<span class="text Luke-6-32" id="en-ESV-25170" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">32 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25170BL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25170BL" title="See cross-reference BL">BL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-33" id="en-ESV-25171" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">33 </span>And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-34" id="en-ESV-25172" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>And <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25172BM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25172BM" title="See cross-reference BM">BM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>if you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25172BN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25172BN" title="See cross-reference BN">BN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-35" id="en-ESV-25173" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">35 </span>But <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25173BO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25173BO" title="See cross-reference BO">BO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25173BP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25173BP" title="See cross-reference BP">BP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>you will be sons of <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25173BQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25173BQ" title="See cross-reference BQ">BQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the Most High, for <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25173BR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25173BR" title="See cross-reference BR">BR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Luke-6-36" id="en-ESV-25174" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">36 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25174BS" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25174BS" title="See cross-reference BS">BS</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>Be merciful, even as <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-25174BT" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-25174BT" title="See cross-reference BT">BT</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>your Father is merciful."</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"But LOVE your enemies." </span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">That stopped me in my tracks; how do I love ISIS when in reality, I abhor what they do.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Followed by: </span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"And do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return"</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">What is the good I believe I am to do? </span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Help these refugees in any way I can. Welcome them. Help them get on their feet.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">And yet remember again, that there was someone in each of our own family's, that came to this country wanting a new life, just as these people do.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">"For He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">This is really hard for me. I admit, I am not there yet. It would be very very difficult for me to be kind if I was to meet a jihadist from ISIS who really wants nothing more to do with me, than to kill me.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">This is where I need Jesus' help. Where <b>we all need Jesus' help.</b></span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Yes it is completely incomprehensible to believe that Jesus Christ loves the people associated with ISIS. And yet, He died for them, just as much as He died for me.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">He abhors the evil they have done; it crushes His heart. Yet He still loves them.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">" Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful".</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">To be merciful is to show compassion. To show others that they matter. That their lives matter. Even when it inconveniences us. Even when it might produce fear in us. That is what ISIS wants to do to us, produce panic and fear, as evidenced by the report (and it has not been validated anywhere), that an ISIS snuck into Germany, through Greece as a refugee, to carry out the attacks in Paris.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">What I would encourage each of us to do, is to <b>read and study the words of Jesus.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">He is incredibly more important than what some politician may say. His Words are always truthful. He is always loving. He is always kind and compassionate, and patient with us. He also always forgives.</span><br />
<span class="text Luke-6-36" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">O LORD GOD, may we all be more like Jesus.</span><br />
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<br />Missy's Musingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435570424989479173noreply@blogger.com0