independence day

This morning, in celebration of Independence Day, I decided to read the words to several patriotic songs. So many of them are so very good--full of love for country and love for God! Contrary to what many liberal folks would have us to believe, our nation truly was built on the foundation of God Himself... and His principles. I was especially moved today by the last verse of the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. I had never heard this verse before...

The Star Spangled Banner (final verse)

~Francis Scott Key

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Let us never forget to praise Him Who is the very Power that made our nation and has preserved it thus far! If we are to stand strong as a nation, we must continue to proclaim--"In God is our trust."

Dear Father... thank You for our country! Thank You for our freedoms! Thank You that in You we may place our trust!

God Bless America!!

today, we remember...

Today, I remember my Grandpa. I used to love to hang out with him when I was a kid. I loved the outdoors and nature and all kinds of creatures. My Grandpa would take me out in the field to see the deer at the salt lick. He would search out unused bird nests and then take me out to find them and bring them home. (My favorite was a beautiful silvery grey hanging Baltimore Oriole nest!) He found little bird and mouse skeletons and put them in jars for me to keep. How I loved to visit my Grandpa.

I also remember that he had a great big ink-blue tattoo running the length of his right forearm. It was an eagle and an anchor, and it was from his days in the Navy. I remember it being there and remember tracing it with my finger. But, I never really thought about what it represented.

Today, I also remember my Uncle Bob. I used to love to visit my aunt and uncle's house and my two cousins. Uncle Bob used to tease me, and I loved teasing him right back. We laughed and joked and enjoyed each other's company. He was always fun for me to be around.

This weekend while I was in Michigan, my mom and uncles and cousin and her family got together at the cemetary to remember our loved ones who were laid to rest there several years ago: my Aunt Helen, my Grandpa and Grandma, and my Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob. We honored them by weeding and planting flowers and tending to their gravesites.

It was while there that I was reminded that Grandpa had served in the Navy during World War II. There was a plaque on the back of his and Grandma's headstone as a reminder.It was while there that I discovered that Uncle Bob had also served in the US military. He had been in the Army and had served in Vietnam. Funny, though I'm sure it left a very lasting impression on him, I don't remember him ever mentioning it.

My Dad and also another uncle of mine both served in the Army in their younger days. So many in my family alone. Men who served in the military-- willing to give their lives for their country and for their loved ones. I am proud of these men in my life who all gave of themselves for the rest of us... for me.

As I looked around the cemetary, I saw flags and plaques on many of the other headstones. So many men and women who have served our country. I am proud of each one of them, and I am grateful for the freedom they earned and protected for me by their service and sacrifice.

Today we remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country's freedoms.

Today we remember and honor those who served in any of the US armed forces.

Today we remember and honor those who, this day, are serving in the military...to protect us and to preserve our freedoms.

Today we honor you...and say THANK YOU! for your service, for your sacrifice, for your gift to us... we are grateful! You are all heros in my book!

God bless the USA. And, God, please bless and protect the men and women in its service.

The Peace of Wild Things...

The Peace of Wild Things
Wendell Berry, Collected Poems

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. for a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

tax day tea time...

I normally steer away from political topics on my blog, but today I wanted to share a bit of my day. It just happened to have been a rather politically-oriented day. You may have heard on the news about the TEA Parties taking place across the country today on tax day. Thousands of Americans in cities all over the nation were "taking a stand" today for what they believe in, and I was able to be one of those folks. It was my very first political rally, and it was actually a very positive experience.

We were joining what was expected to be only about 50 or so folks in the city of Seal Beach. As it turned out, the police estimated our crowd was about 750 people! And everyone was well-behaved, polite, smiling... it was a pleasant group with whom to protest.

It wasn't just about taxes... it was about the use of those taxes...

frustration with and objections to bailouts and excessive government spending...

the passing on of such a horrendous debt to our children and grandchildren...and other issues.

There were signs carried and flags waving (a terrific wind was blowing here today!)... and solidarity amongst the extremely varied crowd of all ages, ethnicities, and walks of life.

I am grateful that I live in a country where one is allowed to gather and peacefully demonstrate... where one is allowed to exercise freedom of speech... and, even more important, to be able to enjoy and experience freedom of worship.

Thank You, God, for the freedoms of my country. May I bravely and proudly stand up for them and may I always thank You for these privileges. I AM grateful!

passover....

Tonight is Passover...

This night we commemorate the "passing over" of the firstborn of Israel when God brought judgment on Egypt by killing all the firstborn in the land... the night when God made a way for His people... a way to FREEDOM.

The Israelites were told to paint the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a lamb... a lamb without defect. A perfect sacrifice.

I paint the doorposts of my home with the blood of the Lamb... the Lamb without sin. A perfect sacrifice.

And a Way is made for me-- the Way to FREEDOM--through Jesus, the perfect sacrifice. By His blood, I, too, am "passed over" by death... and given LIFE.

For this, I am amazedly grateful.

go ahead...be wild...have fun...break a leg!

I saw this on the back of a t-shirt the other day and couldn't resist snapping a shot of it...

I love it! In our overly-cautious-due-to-living-in-an-extremely-litigious society, here is someone saying-- Go ahead! Do it! (You know you want to!!) Be daring! Be wild! Do the crazy stuff!!

Now, this is an "ad" for Glacier National Park, and I do realize the "go ahead and be wild" mantra is being chanted tongue-in-cheek by the paramedics whose livelihood depends upon you doing these very things...and getting hurt.... Nonetheless, doesn't it just feel so freeing and exciting to have someone encourage you to step out into the wildness of life and DO stuff? (or is it just me who almost cannot resist the lure of these words??)

I think this is an example of how God wants us to live... being wild, enjoying life, revelling in creation, stepping out and being bold, taking risks, being excited about life! I want to live the life this logo represents. I want to be thrilled with this place where God has planted me. I want to enjoy what (and who) He has made. I want to be brave and bold and to trust Him to lead me into grand adventures! And I want to be willing to take the risks when He gives me a choice of safety and mediocrity or risk and abundant life!

Thank you, God, for the reminders You give us... the signposts along the path of life we are traveling. Thank You that You desire for us a life that is FULL...

"I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly."

~John 10:10

new year, same old tricks...

Even though it is a new year, I find that the enemy is up to his same old tricks. His favorite game is to do whatever he can to get us to doubt God, to be fearful, to live in bondage rather than in the freedom Christ purchased for us with His very blood. He can't stand to see us deepen our relationship with God or to hear us praise God for Who He is or what He is doing, and he does whatever he can to destroy that trust, rob the joy, or disturb the peace in our hearts.

I've also noticed that the enemy usually knows our weak areas--our areas of brokenness--and tends to come back time and again to those places to use them against us however he can. At least that's what he does with me. He knows a couple of specific areas in my life where I am sensitive and tends to focus on those.

I didn't use to see his attacks as clearly, but in the past couple of years, God has been working in certain areas in my life and opening my eyes to some of the more subtle ways the enemy attacks, trying to draw my trust away from my Father.

One of the areas where I have seen consistent enemy attacks in my life is in the area of my finances. As I've become more aware of his methods, I have been learning to recognize, and even anticipate, when he is at work--or when he WILL be at work. It has become quite predictable--whenever God is doing something big or deep in my heart and life, or when I have made a victorious step in my walk with God, within a few days, the enemy of my soul tries to rob it from me. He sneaks up on tiptoe, quietly approaching, usually while I am loudly shouting God's goodness. And when I quiet myself, he attacks... with his darkness and his lies.

It was only two days into the new year, and he was already about his business...

Over the past few months, I have been working on resolving some difficult financial issues. And, it felt as though each time I would get a plan in place, it would get thrown off by one more (negative) financial surprise. In spite of this, however, I had finally gotten my finances set up in a manner that made me feel as though I would be moving forward rather than just spinning my wheels-- a workable plan to pay down some difficult debt and a solid (albeit tight!) budget. All the pieces were finally in place, and the puzzle was coming together.

On New Year's Eve, I was talking with my good friends about it, and I said I was finally feeling like I could DO this... like I was on the right track with it...not feeling the "frustration of the impossible task" but finally feeling empowered and positive about it. (obviously, this is all with God's help, as it is He Who gives me the life and breath to get up each day and to work and to live!! in no way discounting His providence and grace!!)

Then, that very night, as I got into my car to drive home, the car started behaving strangely. The engine wasn't running right, and I could tell something was wrong. I asked God to heal it (yes, I do that!) and reminded Him that we have a "plan," and it doesn't involve major, unexpected car repairs at this point. When I drove it to work yesterday morning, the problem was still there and was growing worse than the night before.

As I was walking from the parking garage to my office, I could feel the frustration building in me regarding 'one more hit' to my finances. I could feel a sense of hopelessness threatening my peace of mind and heart and the beginnings of anxiety and fear. The voice in my head (which sounded so very much like my own) said "You know, I never should have said I felt empowered or hopeful about my finances."

And, then, all of a sudden something clicked... (a tap on the brain by the Holy Spirit, perhaps??!) and I found myself actually angered by that thought! NO! my mind (or the HS within!) said, "That's not truth! I SHOULD be able to tell others that I feel hopeful. I SHOULD be able to BE hopeful about it!"

And it became so very clear that the enemy, the deceiver, the thief, was up to his old tricks! But this time I was NOT going to listen nor was I going to play his game. I told myself (and him, if he happened to be listening) that I was NOT going to let fear move into that place of peace and hopefulness and confidence in God! I was NOT going to be anxious about it or become discouraged by this. I was going to TRUST that God had helped me come up with "the plan," and He would help me to walk it out, whatever bumps or obstacles may be in the road along the way. Despite what it looked like, I was NOT going to go to that place of fear or anxiety.

A couple of lines from a Dylan Thomas poem came to my mind--

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

I decided I was NOT going to go gentle into that place of darkness and discouragement. My heart and my mind were suddenly 'raging against the dying of the light'! And, it was a bit strange--this feeling of 'rage.' But that's what it felt like. It was a raging at the absolute wickedness of the enemy and the way he rips us off of the good things of God whenever he can--how he tries to give us death in place of the life Christ gives us. And this time, I could see it so clearly.

I will not go gentle into the darkness which the enemy has planned for me! I follow the Light of the World...and where there is Light, there is NO DARKNESS! ("God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." ~1 John 1:5) I will fight. I will stand my ground. I will believe Truth. And I will hold onto hope--because that is how my God would have me to live...in an attitude of hope and trust and confidence in His goodness.

I tell you this (in my long-winded fashion!) as a testimony to God's goodness and as a reminder... that wherever God is at work, the enemy will try to find a foothold to destroy that work, to cause you to doubt God, or to rob you of the peace, joy, and hope He is working in your heart.

As we begin a new year--full of possibilities and opportunities-- we fix our eyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith. We give Him this year ahead and look forward to what He desires to do in us and through us. Let us be aware of and alert to the one who would try to stop us from experiencing the life of abundance and fullness our awesome Father has planned for us this year, and let us not let him steal even one moment of our confidence, our trust, our joy, our peace.

(to Him be the glory for ever and ever!!)

the first Thanksgiving...

"The First Thanksgiving",

painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930).

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in October of 1621 following the Plymouth Colony's first successful harvest. Though many of their number had died that winter, they had much for which to be thankful. And they knew to Whom they owed their gratitude.

"The Pilgrims were brimming over with gratitude--not only to Squanto and the Wampanoags who had been so friendly, but to their God. In Him they had trusted, and He had honored their obedience beyond their dreams. So, Governor Bradford declared a day of public Thanksgiving."*

There were feasting and games and contests with their Indian friends. Everything went so well that the celebration was extended to three days!

"They had so much for which to thank God: for providing all their needs, even when their faith had not been up to believing that He would do so; for the lives of the departed and for taking them home to be with Him; for their friendship with the Indians...; for all His remarkable providences in bringing them to this place and sustaining them."*

This was the story of the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims had come to the new world to pursue religious freedom--the freedom to worship God as He had called them to. They were brave men and women who endured great hardships but counted it all as suffering for the cause of Christ. These were the men and women who first settled our great nation. These were the ones who 'counted the cost' and left behind all they knew to create a nation for the glory of God!

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, may we truly be thankful--not only for our tangible blessings but also for the freedoms we enjoy as a result of those who came before us. And, like the Pilgrims, may we recognize from Whom these blessings come...

Let us join with the voices across the ages as we give gratitude to God for His amazing providence and His incredible blessings! Thank You, Lord; we are grateful!!

*quotes taken from "The Light and the Glory" by Peter Marshall and David Manuel

Veteran's Day...

A great big thank you
to all the men and women who have served
in the United States Armed Forces...
in the past and in the present!


* * * * *
Thank you...
it is such a small phrase
but so very much gratitude is packed into it.

Thank you...
I appreciate you.

Thank you...
I salute you and the flag under which you serve.

Thank you...
for the freedom you protect.

Thank you...
for your courage.

* * * * *
For your service, I am grateful.
For your sacrifice, I am grateful.
For your willingness to put yourself in danger
to protect the freedoms
we so enjoy in this great nation of ours,

I am grateful!
My thanks and my prayers go out to you.