Access to the Word

I just downloaded e-Sword, a free Bible software program, in order for me to insert passages from the Bible into study notes, essays, or whatever. This way I don't have to type out each passage or have to have an Internet connection to copy and paste. I have no trouble typing out each verse. I actually think it helps sometimes. However, I'm doing a personal study which requires researching many passages of Scripture and I think this will aid in note-taking.

It's amazing what access we in America have to the Word of God compared to much of the world. I'm so thankful that Bibles are so easy to come by here. I don't take that for granted. I don't know what I'd do without the Word of God.

So many people have wanted their own Bible for years, but many people don't hear about, listen, or realize that this great need exists.

I don't know what I'd do with out the written Word of God. What would you do if you had restricted access or no access at all to a Bible?

There are multiple organizations, in addition to your local churches and the Salvation Army, that help get Bibles into the hands of those who need and want one. One is Bibles Unbound, part of Voice of the Martyrs. Like I said, there are many. If God lays it on your heart provide a Bible for someone, or to help provide Bibles through certain organization, please do so. Everyone needs the Word of God!

Christmas Everyday

No snow on Christmas this year, which was weird. But, it doesn't matter much. That's not what Christmas is. I celebrate Christmas because I know Christ. And because I know Christ, I can celebrate Christmas everyday. And Easter. And Passover. And...etc. :)

God is so Good

I was playing with my brother's dog Saturday night (running through the house playing "tag" and hide-and-seek) and I caught my middle toe on my right foot on a door. I broke my toe, at least that's what I think. I iced it, didn't take any meds, and slept fine that night. (I felt like a Dufflepud hopping around the house on one foot, except I don't have a huge foot.)  Sunday I hobbled around putting the least amount of pressure on that foot without having to hop on one leg. And, yes, I wore shoes--not flip flops. I taped the "broken' toe to another toe last night. The toe was swollen, but not bad. There is some bruising where the toe meets the foot, but not bad. And today I've sat on my butt playing a 10-year old friend's i-pod touch (she left a note for me when she left for school telling me to feel better and "Play my ipod"), reading a bit, played a game with cousins once they got home from school, watched only a bit of TV. I haven't sat for this long in a long time. I've been using a baseball bat as a cane to help not put much pressure on my foot. My toe doesn't even hurt that much.

God is so Good:
1. it's my middle toe and not my big toe or little toe
2. softball season is over
3. there's hardly any pain
4. I still have things I can do while sitting a lot
5. it doesn't stop me from going to church
6. He's already begun healing my toe, and I know in His time He'll complete the healing
7. He has a sense of humor

(Yes, it's kind of funny. :))

Finally...I get to blog again

Where did summer go in terms of my blog posts? Thanks to Labor Day and not having many pressing things to do, I was finally able to catch up reading friends' blog posts from the past few months. Seriously, I was reading blog posts from June. (Would these count as reading a book today?) I enjoyed reading about my family's adventures in Indonesia (Desjardines, Forneys) and the Philippines (Maxwells). I enjoyed reading about my brother's fast pitch softball season thus far (Robby). I enjoyed about book clubs, being good stewards of time, etc. on another brother's blog (Schindler). I enjoyed read the other blogs, as well. Okay, I simply enjoy reading friends' blogs.

There have been a few things I wanted to blog about during the summer, but at those instances I didn't get the opportunity, and now I don't remember what I wanted to say. Ah, well.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to prepare for next year's slow pitch softball season. I'm a decent hitter, and I'd like to get a bit more power in my swing. Lifting some weights, maybe?I should shed a few more pounds to be better in shape, in any case. I also want to work on running--more, better endurance. Hey, with school beginning tomorrow and most of the kids in school all day, I can begin Biggest Loser workouts on the Wii in our kitchen again during the day! Sweet! Hopefully I stick with it again. I'm thinking about jogging/brisk walking/bike riding around the lake on some of these cool mornings/evenings...yeah, we'll see how that goes.

No matter what I end up doing, I'm eager to see what my King will be doing in me this fall...we're coming into a new season...and the weather has been cooperating today, too. Beautiful and needing to wear a sweatshirt! Yes!

LifeWalk 2011

LifeWalk 2011

Info about the Niles LifeWalk to benefit the Pregnancy Care Center of Niles, and info about how you can donate if you'd like. I'm walking in it, and playing in the Softball Tournament for Life that afternoon.

No and Yes

No Mexico.

We're not going to Mexico for a missions trip. When Sister Pastor called me, she said she had bad news. Then she told me the bad news: no Mexico due to safety concerns. Oh, okay. No wonder why I hadn't been focused on the trip for the past two months. It makes total sense to me. Am I disappointed? Actually, no. Crazy, but true. My youth pastor was even concerned that I'd be really disappointed, but I'm not. And I can already see reasons why we're supposed to be here that 10 days instead of in Mexico. My King is Awesome and Amazing. I'm excited to see what He has planned next. (The D.R. with our choir maybe? Hint, hint, sweet, Jesus, can we go? And soon?)

Yes softball.

We've played two games so far, without any practice. We've won both, but we still need practice. The first game I played right field, and last night I had the opportunity to share being catcher. That was fun. And I'm so ready for practice on Saturday (followed by my Uncle and soon-to-be Aunt's wedding). When I played softball 5 years ago, I had fun at first, but was definitely ready for the season to be over. This year, even before the season began, I knew it was different. I'm so excited and thankful I get to play softball. Five years ago I was a little nervous before games, and even practice. This time, I'm just excited and ready to play. In both instances my King told me, "You're playing softball," when I wasn't even thinking about playing. And Saturday can't get here soon enough...we finally get to practice! During both seasons, though, I've been so blessed to play on an amazing team. That's at least half the reason why I enjoy playing so much. I get to hang out with 14 amazing people while having church in the dirt. I don't care that it's almost ten at night, I'm ready to practice or play a game right now. Let's go.

Yes choir.

As I've seen a change in me in softball already this season, I've noticed a change in me in choir, too. I was in our church choir eight years ago. I enjoyed it. This year my King has said it's time to be back in choir, and I love it. That part hasn't changed. What has changed is that I don't hold back like I did eight years ago. Who cares if I don't get every note right. What matters is that I'm praising and worshiping my King, and that I'm giving my all and having fun. Our King is giving us so many opportunities to share Him through music--He's so amazing. I love my King.

Yes praise team.

I've thought about singing on a praise team before, and within the past few months my King has given me the green light and the opportunities. But why on a praise team instead of just singing with them during praise and worship? Number 1: My Creator King gave me a voice; I can sing. Not amazingly, but good enough. I should use what my King gave me for Him and not keep it for myself. Number 2: My King's giving me the opportunity, and I'm taking it. Now, singing on a praise team isn't much different than singing with the praise team as they lead during a church service. The small differences are that I have to be aware of what the others on the team are singing, what I'm singing, and where the lead vocalist is going. And it's a good thing to know the words. Other than that, there's no difference. I'm still praising and worshiping my King through song. It doesn't matter that I'm up on the platform instead of "in the pews". It doesn't matter that I'm holding a microphone. I can still lift my hands. I can still stop singing for a bit and simply stand in awe of my King. I can still praise and worship my King like I would "in the pews". I don't want the way I worship my King to be different just because I'm on a praise team. Because then it's about me. And it's NOT about me. It's ALL about CHRIST. If I lose sight of that, then I'd better kick myself off the the praise team. Because it's NOT about performing; it's ALL about praising and worshiping my King.

Let's see...any other NOs or YESes?

No mediocrity. Yes to kicking my own butt and adding more fuel to the fire.
No to the bear. Yes to slamming the door closed and bolting it shut and giving Christ the key.
No to wading in the shallows. Yes to jumping in...jump, cannonball, splash.

I love my King. Do you?

Thoughts from Yesterday (which was Sunday)

In Sunday School we are in 2 Peter chapter one. At one point we were talking about how we can forget that Christ has cleansed us from past sins (referencing verse 9) and how the "once saved, always saved" belief is false. Pastor Jeff told us about a time when he had a conversation with someone who believed that once we're saved, we're always saved -- that once we accept and acknowledge Christ as our personal Savior, then we're going to heaven no matter what. 

Pastor Jeff told the guy something like this, "Okay, let's say there's a man who has given his life to Christ, and he and his family are in church every Sunday. After a few years the pastor notices the guy has missed a couple Sundays in the past few months. The pastor decides not to say anything because he doesn't want to pry and he realizes people miss church sometimes. The man's church attendance becomes more sporadic, and soon he doesn't come to church at all. Later, the pastor finds out the man has divorced his wife, etc. So, where's the man going? Heaven or Hell? Is he saved?" The guy talking with Pastor Jeff said, "He was never saved." Pastor Jeff said something like, "Well, what are you going to do for the man?" The guy said, "Lead him to Christ." Pastor Jeff said, "So am I."

Me:  Pastor Jeff, you could have said something like this: "So the man was never married? He divorced his wife, so he was never married to her, right? Or, although he divorced his wife, was he still married to her? Christ compares His relationship with us like a marriage relationship. In a marriage, it's not always 'once married, always married'. People don't always keep the marriage covenant. Sometimes people get divorced. But, just because someone gets a divorce doesn't mean that person was never married. Staying married takes work from both sides, not just one. That's just like us with Jesus. Although once we accept and acknowledge Him as Savior and we are saved from death (the wages of sin is death Roman 6:23), we have the choice to cling to Christ or to walk away from Him. If we don't work at our relationship with Christ by reading His Word, talking with Him (praying), studying His Word...then we'll walk away from Him. He keeps His part of the covenant, but we are the ones who sometimes turn our backs on Him. (Ezekiel 16 and Hosea 2, for example.) We can divorce Christ, but He'll never divorce us. 

Pastor Jeff:  So, Christ keeps His covenant with Israel...

Me: We're grafted in...

Pastor Jeff: So all Jews are saved...

Me: No...Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

I had fun in our little mock debate. It's amazing to see how the Holy Spirit brings His Word to memory at the right moments for the right reasons. 

Then, later on in the day I thought of another analogy regarding the "once saved, always saved" thing. You are swimming (pool, lake, ocean, large pond, river, wherever). You begin to drown (seaweed, shark, cramp, undertow, waves, whatever reason). As you're drowning, someone saves your life. Since then you've been swimming again many times. A few years later, you're swimming and for whatever reason you are again drowning. But you don't need help. You were saved years earlier. Once saved, always saved, right? WRONG! Without someone to save you from drowning, you will die. It doesn't matter that you were saved from drowning once before. Each time you're drowning, you still need saved. And just because you may be drowning for the 17th time and need saved, it doesn't mean you'd never been saved before.

Our self-righteousness

It's like Satan was at the bottom of the ocean saying, "Come on down here, it's fun. The water's fine." And you listened and started swimming down and inhaling water the whole time, and Jesus grabbed a hold of you and pulled you up out if the ocean and got the water out of your lungs and slapped you across the face. You say, "Well...thanks, Jesus", and then go tell everyone what a great swimmer you are. See how self-righteous we are? God saves us and does so many good things and we take the credit for what we do good.

-- Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker, 

from "The Voyage to Another World" 

Sunday, September 7, 2003

I'm Amazed

This evening after dinner I was trying on a number of pairs of pants one of my sisters had given me. When I was almost finished going through the small pile, I thought, "I'm amazed." Then I realized what CD I was listening to: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's I'm Amazed. Then I realized what song was playing: "I'm Amazed". Wow. How appropriate. I love how my King has perfect timing, and how He never ceases to amaze me.

I'm so amazed right now because of what all has happened in the past week.(You may want to skip Thursday's if you have a weak stomach or cry easily.)

• Wednesday evening during church, I found out that our church's choir may have the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic for a missions trip. My first thought when I heard my pastor say that was, "Do you need chaperons?" That thought was partly a joke because right now there's no one in our choir who needs a chaperon, and I wasn't part of the choir. However, I've been to the D.R. on a missions trip before (2007) and I want to go back. Also, I'd been in the choir during the summer of 2003, but hadn't been able to jump back in due to many things. So, that night I began praying, "Lord, I want to go back to the D.R. Can I go back? Can we go? Can I? I want to jump in with both feet, but I don't want to put more on my plate unless You say it's okay." In addition, our family dog, Snuggles, was not doing well. I mentioned about the seizures in my previous post, and she'd been doing okay until a few days before this. Snuggles hadn't been eating or drinking for about 4 days and it wasn't looking good. I went to bed with some questions:
• The Bible says not to kill--not to intentionally murder. What's the difference between euthanasia for animals or euthanasia for people? When "putting and animal down", people do it so the animal won't suffer. Isn't that what people say about euthanasia for humans? Either way, we're still killing them. Lord, please take Snuggles peacefully when it's her time. I don't want to kill her by "putting her down". Yes, I know there is a difference between humans and animals. For one, humans are made in the image of God. But, still.
• Since the Bible says not to kill, then what's the difference between killing a mosquito or killing a person? Yes, the Bible says God's given us animals for food, but if we're intentionally killing something that we're not going to use for food, then aren't we breaking God's command? That is, unless it's in self-defense or cannot be avoided? I've killed many bugs, as well as a mole or two and a groundhog/woodchuck. Did I want to? The bugs, yes. The groundhog, no. The moles, not really. And when it comes to bugs, I don't kill most of them. Mainly just mosquitoes, flies, some spiders, and gnats. Yet, who am I to choose? Who am I to kill what God created?
• Thursday morning, Mom woke me up about 20 minutes earlier than normal, around 7:10 am, because Snuggles was dying. I quickly got dressed and was with her during her final few minutes. I covered her with an old blanket, tried to tuck her legs in as best as I could knowing she'd be stiff soon, tried to close her eyes, and put her in the garage. The kids hadn't left for school yet, but only two of the older ones knew what was going on (one was crying a bit, so we had to make her laugh before the bus came). During the course of the rest of the day, I took Snuggles' collar off, I went with my dad to my aunt and uncle's to help bury her in the family doggie graveyard (there are 4 dogs there now). And, being who I am, when taking off Snuggles' collar, I poked her in various places amazed at how quickly rigor mortis set in. During much of the day one though kept going through my head: "I'm going back to the D.R. I may be going back to the Dominican Republic soon." I went to bed with more questions:
• Lord, why did you create rigor mortis? What's the point of it? It reminds me of how when we're spiritually dead, our heart is hard. Even if part our lives are hardened toward You, it's like that part of us is dead. Thank You, though, that You are Life and You give life, and can soften any dead, hardened are of our lives if we allow You to.
• Friday morning I played outside in a few inches of snow with three of our boys who are around 4 and 5 years old. For much of the hour outside, we played with Ariel (my brother's black lab/pit bull mix) and did baseball/softball slides. I had fun practicing those slides. I thought I'd practice because I never know when I'll need that skill. I found out that in the snow is the perfect place to learn and practice those slides.
• Saturday I spent relaxing most of the day and thinking about going to Mexico and the Dominican Republic both possibly in the same year.
• Sunday, during pre-school church, one of the dads came in to get his son and told his son to ask one of the girls if her mom was going to play softball this year. The dad then told his son to ask his teacher (me) if she was going to play softball this year. I automatically said no because I didn't have time for it. Then, on our way to lunch, I thought, "I'm playing softball. Wait...Lord, I'm playing softball this year? Okay, I'm playing softball." I played softball with our church's co-ed team during the summer of 2006, and every winter since then I've thought about whether I'd play that summer or not, and I've prayed about it. This year, I didn't even really think about it, and the Holy Spirit tells me I'm playing softball. So, I've begun spring training since I don't like to run much. 
• Monday and Tuesday were "normal" days, and I was excited about going to choir practice on Wednesday.
• Wednesday (yesterday) I went to choir practice at church before youth group. Oh, how I've missed being in choir. I'm glad it's time for me to jump in again. And by jumping in I mean I'm singing with the choir on Sunday during service. I just heard the song for the first time, sang it once in practice, and am learning it on my own this weekend. I'm thankful for the basic music stuff I've been taught, for the many years in school choirs, for a wonderful church choir, and for an amazing choir director/pastor/softball teammate/friend/big brother/another dad/etc. 

I'm amazed. Mexico, choir, the D. R., softball, many free pairs of pants...Lord Jesus, I don't know what You're doing with me right now, yet I'm jumping in with both feet.

*Jump* *Cannonball* *Splash!*

Breathing...is a privilege.

Not being able to breathe through my nose drives me nuts. I've had a cold for about a week, and each time I get a cold I'm reminded what a privilege it is to be able to breathe through my nose. I thank Jesus for when I'm able to breathe through my nose. When I can't breathe through my nose, everything's a bit off. I think at least some of you have an idea of what I mean. I have to concentrate a bit more on breathing when my nose is stuffed up. When my nose functions properly, I breathe without realizing I'm breathing--it's effortless. 

It reminds me of how it is with Christ. If I breathe in the way He's made natural (living life focused on Him, seeking Him, reading the Bible every day, studying His Word, talking with Him throughout the day [praying], listening to Him, obeying Him), then it's not an effort and I don't notice I'm breathing. But, if my "nose is stuffed up" (not in the Word as I should be, not talking with Christ as much, not seeking Him as much, not focused on Him), then it's not as easy to breathe and I have to work at it a bit more, and things are a bit off.

I like breathing naturally a lot better.

Mexico part 5

Yesterday we had our 1st drama practice for the mission team. I wasn't sure how many would actually be on the drama team, and was pleased we had a good number. As I shared with the team, I have some ideas for the human videos/lip syncs, but I need everyone's help to finalize ideas and figure out what works and what doesn't. Our team does well with that, which is a blessing. And, boy, are we goofballs. Sometimes I don't know how we manage to get things done because we have lots of fun, but somehow we get things done.

Our schedule for while we're in Mexico is becoming a bit more concrete, and we're learning more and more details about the trip. For next month's meeting, it looks like we may get to share it with the missionary we're working with, Roger Tomlinson. That will be cool.

Wow, what a day.

Actually, it began with a dream yesterday morning about a rabbit loose in our house. This rabbit wasn't ours; it just ran in the door. And it wasn't a wild bunny, it was one of the big bunnies that are shown at fairs. It was white with brown markings on its ears and face. A normal, odd dream for me.

This morning, fairly early, I had a dream that my brother was trying to fix our water pump. In the dream, it was in a large pit in our front yard. My brother was getting ready to climb down in the pit and somehow he fell in. My mom and I were standing there like, oh, crap. Then, my brother stood up in the pit and yelled for us to pull him out. The dream ended with me thinking,"He's injured, but not bad, thank You, Lord, but how are we supposed to pull him out?" That was a bit scary, and I'm thankful Jesus helped me get back to sleep after that one.

Before lunch, we got a phone call from our elementary school asking us to come get one of our girls who had gotten sick, and her mom was at work. So, my sister went and got her.

During lunch, our dog Snuggles (11 1/2 years old) had a small seizure--the 2nd (or third?) one in three weeks. We made a vet appointment for later in the afternoon.

My sister decides she wants to make a going-away card for a friend of hers who is moving soon. Mind you, this isn't a simple card; it's one of those cool-looking scrapbook card things. So, since she's not quite gifted in that sort of thing, I was able to make it for her and she can now fill in the rest.

Then one of the parents called saying that 2 of their kids would be on the bus coming home, but not the 3rd--they got a doctor appointment for him for a possible ear infection.

My sister and I took Snuggles to the vet. After a blood test, we found out she may have Addison's disease, which means not enough of a hormone is being made causing her electrolytes to be way out of wack, She goes in some time tomorrow for an hour-long test to be done.

When we got home, none of the four previous-mentioned kids were there--some misscommunication or something between the three in the same family and all ended up going for the one's appointment. The sick one was gone. The other 2 (not mentioned yet) had been picked up. The only ones there were 2 of my cousins (not before mentioned).

Then, Biggest Loser Workout and dinner, and some other random small things. Now I see a stinky cheese hat and I'm trying to see past the toys on the computer desk. One of "our" goofy kids is a Green Bay Packers fan and decided to bring his stinky cheese hat (you know the one) and some of his toys, although he knew he had school today. He's 5.

Now to read the Word, watch Hawaii 5-0, then go to bed. I think.

And how am I? Doing fairly well. My dad, well, he's a bit worried about Snuggles--both her health and the vet bill. Prayer for him and the dog would be appreciated.

Oh, I can always use prayer.

And in my mind, I still see that beautiful bunny rabbit from my dream yesterday morning.

Wow. What a day. Yet, not really in the crazy sense. (I'm serious. Just "random". Not crazy.)

Missions Trip Mexico (part 4): Location, team, provisions

Yay! We know the details about the location! We will be going to Doctor Arroyo in the Nuevo Leon region, south east of Monterrey, in the mountains. I've heard it gets down to around 65 degrees F at night in July, which is good for sleeping. I'm excited about that one.

I'm excited about our team. We have a great team, and hopefully we get even better. It's going to be a blast spending over a week with all of them!

The Lord has already provided the funds for me to go. I knew He would, because He wants me to go, but I didn't know He would provide it all already! Thanks, dear Husband, my King! Please continue to pray for peace and trust for the team as God will provide for them, as well.

In the stillness, God is there

In the not too distant past, there was a day in which I was in pain for about 5 1/2 hours (I'm female, that's all that needs to be said). It was a pain that was not unbearable, but enough to make me almost puke, and enough to make me cry. It was only the 2nd time I'd ever been in that much pain, and I think it was the longest amount of time. While in bed for most of that time, I concentrated on breathing and talking with Jesus. I knew He was with me, but it sure would have been nice to feel His presence right then. While lying there, our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted because of/for Christ came to mind. They know God is right there with them, too, and I'm sure they'd like to feel His presence while being beaten or while in hiding or while in a jail cell. So I prayed for them during those pain-filled hours, as well.

There's a song I know (and sing in church and youth group sometimes) that's been playing in my head for the past week or two that fits with all of this. Well, many may not have thought about this aspect of the song, like I hadn't, before. I pray you will after reading this, though. The song is "In the Secret" by Andy Park.(If you don't know the song, it's on YouTube and iTunes and many other places on the Web.) Here are the lyrics:


In the secret in the quiet place
In the stillness you are there
In the secret in the quiet hour
I wait only for you
'cause I want to know you more

I want to know you
I want to hear your voice
I want to know you more
I want to touch you
I want to see your face
I want to know you more

I am reaching for the highest goal
That I might receive the prize
Pressing onward, pushing every hindrance aside
Out of my way
'cause i want to know you more

I used to think of a quiet, still place as me being in the woods, on/by a small lake, out shoveling snow or something. Or, maybe in my bed before falling asleep at night. Well, what about the "secret" room where a brother or sister is being held prisoner for owning a Bible? Or the "quiet", "stillness" of solitary confinement in a jail cell because that member of our family told someone about Jesus? Or the "quiet hour" between sessions of physical torture?

Do you think God is with our brothers and sisters there? YES. Do our brothers and sisters know He's there? Most of them, YES. And they're waiting for Him. They just want Christ. They do their best to keep focused on Christ, "pushing every hindrance aside" as they're "reaching for the highest goal"--Christ.

I dare you to think about our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted around the world the next time you hear or sing this song. It enhances the meaning a bit, I think.

Want more information about the persecuted Church? Want to know how to pray for them? How to help? Go to The Voice of the Martyrs website: www.persecution.com.