it's December 1st.

   Yes, that means that Christmas is only 24 days away. More about that subject in a minute. For now, I want to write about something else. Today is December 1st. That means this year is almost over. What things, whether via "New Year's Resolutions" or just setting goals for myself, did I set out determined to accomplish/do this year? How many of the yet unaccomplished ones, can I still, via hard work and re-prioritizing things, get accomplished, before that ball drops on New Years Eve? 
   Two different ones come to mind, that I won't be able to accomplish. The first one has to do with weight loss. Dropping as much weight as I have in mind to lose, in one months time, would most likely land me in the hospital. And that was an item on my "I hope I don't have to go there this year" list. ;-p  While I haven't dropped any-where's near to what my goal was, I have made a good start over the last two months.  Having the grand children in the house, has been good for more than just this grandma's spirits!! ;->
    The second item had to do with wanting to once again do lots of canning and freezing of fresh fruits and veggies. The vertigo wasn't under control enough yet, when all of that stuff was in season. So this particular item shall be transferred to next year's list.
    How-ever, a couple of items that I could still conquer, have also come to mind. One has to do with using my sewing machine, the other is a sorting out / organizing project.  My determination about both of these is rising!!!
    What kind of things/goals were on your lists? Can any of the yet unaccomplished ones, still get ticked off as "done"?  I KNOW you CAN!!! (choo-choo...;-p )

    Now, yes, today being December 1st, also means that there are only 24 more days left till Christmas.  Thus, I have tackled the getting all of the pop corn strung, so that some how, some way, we can get the tree up this weekend (scheduling 'life' around here is a tricky business!).

                                                l-o-n-g strands -

                      (eight strands hanging double over a hanger)
     And I've also redecorated our blog for Christmas. (If you get these postings via email, you ought to go visit our actual blog.) And I've been giving some thought as to what baking I want to do this year. And what to get to put in our kids stockings. A-n-d....
    I would encourage YOU to check out THIS posting, which reads - "Thought I'd start the season right off, by doing a directory of all of the previous subject related postings we've done, in the hopes that you will find at least one of them helpful. "

   o/~  "May your day's be Merry and Bright . . . " o/~

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).

What's your take on his actions?

   On one of our local 11:00 news shows last night, they did a segment about all of the people who were already in lines at various stores around town, waiting for the stores doors to open to the 'Black Friday' bargains. Some people had already been in the lines for h-o-u-r-s. A few even had small sized tents set up.
   One of the guys they interviewed, really struck a nerve with me. Were his actions contradicting themselves to his kids?  Was the one possible lesson being taught, getting voided out by the actions he was using?  You could go round and round with all of it. And my mind did. And then Brian and I did, discussing it.  I am very curious what your take on it will be. PLEASE leave me in-put letting me know it!
      [ Reminder about posting comments on our blog, for those of you whom don't have blogs or google accounts of your own - after you type in your comment, you need to click on the bar underneath it, which reads "comment as" and then click on "anonymous". Then click on the "Post comment" button.]

     The man in line had already been in line for over twelve (12) hours. He said that he was a father of six (6), and couldn't usually afford the items his kids wanted and was hoping to be able to get them via the 'Black Friday' specials.  So yes, he had missed having Thanksgiving dinner with his family. Oh, and it was also his birthday.

    - - One perspective. By not having Thanksgiving dinner (which is all about getting together with those you love and expressing your thankfulness for so many blessings, etc.) with his family, he was demonstrating that the 'things' he was hoping to buy them, were more important than spending time with them.

     - -  Another angle. He was showing them that sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get the things you want in life.

     - - And another slant. Their desires in life were more important to him, than having others celebrate his birthday with him.

     - - And yet another angle. Was he giving credit to society's view, that the 'things' you can acquire in life, is what's important?

    My take on the whole thing? He lost my vote for the 'Father of the year' award. Doing things WITH your kids (and grand kids), is by far the best thing a parent (or grand parent) can give to a child (no matter how old your child becomes!).
     You can not put a price tag on love exchanged through laughter, or looks, or hugs. Those type of moments, build far better relationships. And those type of relationships, are worth far more than any store bought gift could ever hope to increase to. True, the relationship will never wow the experts on Antiques Road Show by being their biggest find ever. But the warm fuzzes and inner security, etc. that those type of relationships contain, will make your life far more enjoyable and bearable than that type of a '"treasure" ever could.

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).

The evidence was there...

   I just laid, resting on my bed for a bit after I awoke this morning. I was just so-o-o comfortable! All of me (except the dancing going on near the top of the inside of my head) was relaxed, and rested, and comfortable, why rush into getting up?  As I lay there, I was looking out the window and thanking God for the wonderful cool breezes he was caressing me with.
    The breezes had been moving tree branches some, but not a whole lot. Then suddenly a big branch of the neighbors 'bushy' pine tree (I have no idea what the actual name of that type of pine tree is. I just know two things about them - 1) the pine needles grow hanging down from the branches, making them look all bushy like. And 2) I don't like that type.) took a BIG dip down. At first I thought, "Ought - oh, here it comes again". (We've had some really strong winds connected with storms around here lately!) But then I realized that none of the other branches on that tree, or even on other trees, were doing the same thing. Curious.
     A minute later a branch of a neighboring pine tree also took a big dip down, but then began to spring up and down for a bit. "Awww... the squirrels are playing again". I kept watching. Very shortly thereafter, the telephone line started doing a rhymatic type of bouncing, I smiled, expecting to see the squirrels in chase any moment.
     I never did see the squirrels. They must have headed the other direction when they got on the phone line, instead of heading my direction. But all of the evidence that they had been present was there.
     It struck me how like God that scene had just been. While I couldn't see Him, I had known it was Him caressing me with the cool gentle breezes. And while I still can't see Him, I know it is Him that is building both my physical strength as well as my emotional assurance, to get up from here and go tackle frosting that wedding cake I baked the layers for yesterday.
     Thank-you Lord - - the 'evidence' IS in the proof.

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Not "Baaad" Sundays", are hosted by Danni and Derek (aka: "Sexy Nerd"), at 'Lamb Around' (http://lambaround.blogspot.com/).
~ "Soli Deo Gloria" (Latin = "For the Glory of God Alone"), is hosted by Jen, at 'Finding Heaven One Step At A Time' (http://findingheaventoday.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'
   ~ "walk with Him Wednesdays", are hosted by Ann, at 'A Holy Experience' (http://www.aholyexperience.com/).
~  "Coffee Talk Friday('s)", hosted by Vic, at 'For The Love Of Blogs' (http://forblogs.blogspot.com).
  ~ "Inspiration Friday('s)", are hosted by Vanessa and Heather, 'At The Picket Fence' (http://www.atthepicketfence.com/).

Be Still and Know ...

    Today's subject matter is something which I have been thinking about / mulling over for a whole lot of years. The irony is, that the more years pass, the more the subject comes to mind. Why?  I'll get to that.
    The Bible instructs us to 'Be Still and KNOW that I am God". Yes, it is referring to how we humans have such great tendencies to get ourselves all worked up (often known as worried) over situations. We are suppose to be calm and rest in the assurance that God (not us) IS in control.
     But it is also referring to how we don't take time to communicate with God. Or more correctly, we don't bother to listen to his side of the conversation. We're real good at 'letting our requests and supplications be known' (otherwise known as praying), but we often stink at listening to his side, of seeking out His voice.
    Like I said, this is something which I have been very aware of for years. It's just that as time passes, the evidence of it is becoming more and more apparent.

     I have always liked this old hymn:
     "In The Garden"   by C. Austin Miles
     (First verse -) o/~ "I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses."
     (Chorus - ) o/~ "And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there ...."  o/~

    God wants to have a relationship with us. A day by day, inter-active relationship!
    Us humans are wired such, that we really function much better, if on a regular basis, we get some 'down time'. People use to sit on their porch and relax come evening time. They sat, they relaxed, they chatted with others around them, and they took deep breathes and listened to the quiet as night settled in with it's own sounds. And often in the process of watching the stars come out, their thoughts turned to God. And in their minds and hearts, they communicated with him.
    You hear older folks talk about how they were all wired up, so they took a walk to clear their mind. In other words, while they were walking, they thought everything through again, and most often, they would start communicating with God during the process. It would be just them and God, walking and talking.

     I live near a long park where lots of people go to walk. The majority go either to walk their dogs, or for the exercise of walking (or they combine both). But seldom does it appear as though they are going to just think things over. Or, to be be still and communicate with God. How can I tell? Because of the ear phones stuck in their ears. In our high tech society, we seem to have the idea that we must always be plugged into something. Whether we be driving our vehicles, or doing our dishes, or taking a walk in the park, somehow or another, we are tuned in or plugged in to something.
    I bet that those who are walking for their health's blood pressure issues, would see a vast improvement in their blood pressure meter readings, if they unplugged while walking. Likewise, I bet couples who power walk together, would see mass improvement in their relationships, if they unplugged and slowed their pace down just a tish.
    And for what it's worth - listening to a sermon on your iPod, is NOT the same as 'walking and talking with God'!!! While it probably is better than some of the other things you could be listening to, you'd still be much better off (all the way around) if you weren't 'plugged in' at all.

(I found this pic. on line, forgot to copy the address, now can't re-find it... 8-/)

   Last Friday, my friend Sue Sch. posted something on her Face-book page, which so fits in with all of this. Sue had written, "This was from my devotions this morning." "Sit quietly in my presence while I bless you. Make your mind like a still pool of water, ready to receive whatever thoughts I drop into it. Rest in my sufficiency, as you consider the challenges this day presents. Do not wear yourself out by worrying whether you can cope with the pressures. Keep looking to Me, as we walk through this day together."

    On August 2nd, on the blog 'A Holy Experience', Ann had written this near the beginning of the posting titled 'When Your Waiting for a Message from God', "A friend sends me words, says she’s been sitting outside just listening to things… bees droning over flowers…. the wind in the trees… birds up high. She’s setting her brain in a quiet place away from the link and click and whirl of the world wide web that catches everything trying to soar, and she’s just letting her “brain rewire itself to something slower, more contemplative.”  She wonders if a contemplative life suffers if we have a cyberspace life? She writes the words and I read them again and again, trying to read His answer. Is it possible for the inner ear to hear when the outer ear’s pressed up to the internet? I don’t know…  "

     Most of us don't let our kids bring iPods, to the dinner table. And we tell them to either leave their cell phones elsewhere, or to turn them off. "No phone calls or texting while at the table, and no-o, you can't leave the table to go talk to so and so".  Our reasoning? We want them to join in the conversation. We don't want them distracted by all of that other stuff.
    We get frustrated with our spouse when we're trying to talk to them and they are (or at least seem to be) paying more attention to the TV. We like their undivided attention.
    So why then don't we extend the same courtesy to God?

    "One on one with God", involves more than just taking ten minutes every morning to read a bit of scripture and offer up our prayers. That's Good. That IS important. But...

     Building a relationship with God takes time. Yes, "time" is a 'precious commodity'. But there is nothing more precious than a close relationship with God. Nope, not even holding a new born grand child. Close. ( o;-p ) But NOT as precious.

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Not "Baaad" Sundays", are hosted by Danni and Derek (aka: "Sexy Nerd"), at 'Lamb Around' (http://lambaround.blogspot.com/).
~ "Soli Deo Gloria" (Latin = "For the Glory of God Alone"), is hosted by Jen, at 'Finding Heaven One Step At A Time' (http://findingheaventoday.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Making A Home", hosted by Linda, at 'Linda's Lunacy' (http://lindaslunacy.blogspot.com/).
~ "Unwasted Homemaking Party('s)", are hosted by Marcie, at 'Don't Waste Your Homemaking' (http://www.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com/).
   ~ "walk with Him Wednesdays", are hosted by Ann, at 'A Holy Experience' (http://www.aholyexperience.com/).
~  "Coffee Talk Friday('s)", hosted by Vic, at 'For The Love Of Blogs' (http://forblogs.blogspot.com).
  ~ "Inspiration Friday('s)", are hosted by Vanessa and Heather, 'At The Picket Fence' (http://www.atthepicketfence.com/).

"spread our wings and soar with eagles"

    Like I am sure many of you do too, I often receive emails which I have dubbed the "feel good" type. Sometimes they contain sentimental stories of such a nature, as to make you "feel good" and have the 'warm fuzzes' after having read them. Some contain prayers of some sort. And others promise you will receive some particular type of a blessing 'if you but forward this on to X amount of people in a specific amount of time'.
   Yesterday I opened one my dad had sent me, which from the get go I was sure was going to fall into one of the afore-mentioned categories. And maybe others whom read it thought it did. But it touched me. Deeply.
    As many of you know, I am an analyzer. I have a tendency to analyze things whether others think the thing needs it or not. And, whether I should analyze it or not. (Yes, there is a difference.) To a great point, it's just the way I'm wired.
    So as you would expect, after having read the email from my dad, my brain started analyzing it to some degree. But this time, it didn't just start, it kept going. What I came up with really impacted me. The things my analyzing hit upon, were things which in turn brought the names of other people to mind. People whom I truly wish would read it and take heed to the words contained there in. Things which I know I too need to take heed as well as action on.
    My dad had received the contents of the email from a friend and then forwarded it on. In a way, I too am now forwarding it on.
    May you "feel good" once you have finished reading this, and may it give you the 'warm fuzzes'. But even more than that, I hope that it too touches you deeply.
- - -
   "No wonder God wants us to spread our wings and soar with eagles."

   "The Story of the Eagle"

    "The eagle has the longest life-span among birds. It can live up to seventy (70) years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision.

    In its' forties (40's), its' long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its' long and sharp beak becomes bent. Its' old age and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its' chest and make it difficult to fly.

   Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts one hundred and fifty (150) days.

   The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its' nest. There the eagle knocks its' beak against the rock until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its' talons. When its' new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its' old age feathers.

   And after five (5) months, the eagle takes its' famous flight of rebirth and lives for thirty (30) more years.

   Why is change needed? Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits, and other past traditions. Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

   Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens. Nor by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.

   When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only bird that, in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the cloud. 

   Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
                       They will soar on wings like eagles;
                       they will run and not grow weary,
                       they will walk and not be faint."
          {N(ew)I(nternational)V(ersion)}

    Psalms 103:5 "Who satisfies your years with good things,
                          So that your youth is renewed like the eagle."
          (New American Standard Bible)   "

  I found this picture on line at this address: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/dvn/aboutus/eagle_soaring%20closeup.jpg

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NEXT week, I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).

(Be-lated) Nov. 29th - "I'm Thankful for: "

    On Nov. 1st, I had shared that I was Thankful for the fact that God loved me. I had also admitted, "I am a sinner (wasn't sure all of you knew that o;-p)"  What I hadn't gone into detail about, was just how much God does love me. And you. God loves each and every single person ever created. And His love for all of us (and them) is deep. Passionately so. Not the sexual type of passion, mind you. But a deep burning love type of passion. That type that He willingly and knowingly took action on our behalf for.
    Last week was Thanksgiving, so we are now in to the Christmas season. There is a reason that word begins with the word 'Christ'. As many put it, Christ is "the reason for the season". Christmas is actually a huge celebration of Jesus birth. Who else has birthday parties that the stores start stocking for six months before the date? ;-p
    Around Christmas, you do hear a whole lot about "the Christian version" of the holiday. To the point that a lot of people have taken great measures to try to remove that "influence" from our society.
    There is a lot of coolness about Christ coming as a baby. But the really wondrous part is that He came as a baby, knowing full well how his earthly life would end. Knowing that His eventual death would create the holiday we call Easter. Easter, where there isn't as much "Christian influence" evident every where. With out Christmas, Easter could not have happened. Without Easter, our sinfulness would have kept us separated form God. For eternity! There is a lot to celebrate about Easter! And also about Christmas. All in all, the real roots for both of them often just boggles my mind.

    The reason that Christ came to this earth, was so that He could eventually die. THAT death, the resulting shedding of His blood, was the only way that we could become 'qualified' to enter Heaven once our earthly bodies die.

    Christ loving me that much, that He willingly endured that much pain and torture for my sake, is just mind boggling.

    Earlier in this 'series' (challenge), I talked about how I am thankful that Brian is not only my husband, but also my friend. And sometimes the fact that he still wants to be my friend, these just shy of *34 years later, is mind boggling to me. And yet it's also thrilling. And heart warming.
    [ *34 years as friends - 30 1/2 years as husband and wife.]
   A different time I had written about Brian as my husband. And his still choosing to love me, all these years later. Sometimes I see plenty of reasons why he shouldn't. But he does. His quote to me, "I loved you before. I love you today. And I'll love you tomorrow. Period!"  While I'm not always sure why he does, I am very thankful that he does!!!
   In another posting in this 'series' (challenge), I talked about how I am WOWED by people whom chose to be my friend. And many of them have been friends for a r-e-a-l-l-y long time (but no, that does not then mean we are 'old'!! ;-b). The fact they they are my friends because they want to be, I find amazing. And thrilling. And heart warming.
    Then there is the fact that while I KNOW God purposely did not make me like everybody else,  sometimes how 'different' I am (at least in my own perspective), makes me question why He would chose to love "ME" !

    But He does. God LOVES me. And He loves you too. Just as much! So much so that He willingly died in order to rescue us from our own sins. That folks, is amazing!!! That is thrilling!! That is something for which I am ever so thankful for!!!!!! !!!!
    
    Not only did God die and offer me "salvation", He offered it "free of charge".
   - There is no 'small print' on the 'contract'.
   - There is no 'limited time' on His offer. Well, that is, our time to accept His 'free of charge' offer is limited to the time we are alive here on this earth (and we all aware, whether we like to think on it or not, that we do not know how long that really might be). Or, until He chooses to end the world as we know it. That event comes connected with "the Rapture" (which is talked about in the Bible's book of Revelation, and we posted some about it in THIS posting).
   - There is no way that we can 'earn' our salvation. The Bible is very clear on this. "Not by righteous works which you have done.... " That does not mean that we aren't suppose to do good works. It just means that no matter how many we might do, THEY are not able to earn us His free gift of 'salvation'. ('Salvation' essentially means forgiveness of/for our sins.)

   Then, God not only offered it 'free of charge', He also offered it TO ME. Me, personally. God did so because He wants to have a relationship with ME.
   Again, this is not referring to a sexual type of relationship. Rather, it's about the deepest of friendships. The type of friendship where you truly love the other, and "sex" NEVER enters the equation.
   - God wants to "walk and talk with us". He knows all about us, and yet He still wants us to share that information with him. You know how sometimes you know this or that about somebody, and yet when they open up and share that information about themselves it means that your friendship has passed over even more barriers/walls? THAT is the type of relationship God wants with us! Amazing!
   - And He wants us to read His Bible so that we learn more and more about Him. (If you don't have a Bible in your own home, then we recommend you go to a public library and use one of theirs. For those of you whom haven't had lots of experience with the Bible, we would recommend the NIV version. It's written more in lines with the language we use today.)
   - Another aspect about God offering it to me personally, is that means that we do not have to go through anybody else to get to Him. Not another human. Not His mother. Nobody else. He wants us to have a relationship with HIM!  WOW!

    If my earthly life were to end tonight, I KNOW for a fact that I would then be in Heaven. Do you? Is this something that is on your own "I'm Thankful for: " list?   If not, or if your not totally sure, P-L-E-A-S-E scroll down to the picture at the very bottom of our blog site, and use your Bible (or borrowed Bible) and look up all of the references listed there in for yourself. Yes, it really is THAT important!!!
   
    Thank-You God for your amazing wondrous love for me. WOW!!!!



The 2010 "I'm Thankful for: " Challenge   - if you don't know what this is, follow the lead on our side bar.

an unusual message

    Last Saturday morning, I was able to attend the memorial service of the father/father-in-law of our dear friends John and Jewels, via my sweet friend Elizabeth B. chauffeuring me. (Thanks Elizabeth!!). I had known the father/father-in-law for y-e-a-r-s. He and his wife had been active in camp back when my family first started attending. And then they had been coming to our church for the last couple of years, via their children. But the main reason I wanted to attend, was to give smiling support to my friends.
    Originally both Brian and I were going to go, but then for the first time in over two years, his work scheduled a 'mandatory Saturday'. Figures. I'm glad I went anyways.
    One of the speakers was Dr. Rich McCarrell. He spoke on Romans chapter 16, verses 3 through 16. Like he said, it is not the usual type of message you hear at funerals or memorial services. But I liked it! And I was encouraged by it.
    In those verses, the apostle Paul is sending personal greetings to various people in the local body of believers in Rome. By personal greetings, I mean that he mentions different people by name. None of the names he mentions, are names that we automatically associate with the early church in Rome, or anywhere for that matter. We are all familiar with the name Paul, or Timothy, or Matthew, or Mark, or Titus, as well as others. But some of the names he is sending greetings to here are, Priscilla, Aquila, Junia and Tryphosa. As well as others.
    Dr. McCarrell said that all of these people, were people whom were the 'behind the scenes' type of people in the local churches. They were the ones whom did what needed to be done, so that the more well known names could do the teaching. Paul held all of them in high esteem because they were using their own God given talents for the benefit of the spreading of the gospel, as well as the encouraging and building up of the saints.
    Dr. McCarrell said that Paul knew just how important their 'behind the scenes' efforts were in the overall scheme of things. He said that it was likely the now deceased would have been one of the people Paul would have been sending greetings to.
    He wanted to use that passage so that he could encourage all of us still here, to continue on in what we do, whether we be 'out front', or one of the just as vital but 'behind the scenes' type of people.
    I wanted to share this with all of you to hopefully spread the encouragement. Sometimes being a 'behind the scenes' type of worker/person can seem discouraging and totally unappreciated. We must remember who it is we are called to serve. While we are told to serve one another, it is God himself that we are actually to be serving. What ever 'behind the scenes' task that we are doing, mentally know that it is God we are doing it for.
    May you too be encouraged by Paul's message in Romans 16: 3 - 16.

Creation vs. Loving Us

    There is a TV show called "Big Bang Theory" which I call "The Geek Squad". At first it was due to my never being able to remember what it's name really was, and since the show is all about a bunch of 'geeks', it both fit and worked. Now I continue to call it that because I do not believe in 'the big bang theory'. You know, the one about how everything came to be.
    Now true, I was brought up being taught all about God, and creationism, etc., so yes, in a way, believing in it does come rather naturally. On the other hand, I have never seriously doubted or questioned it either. There are just so many examples of God's handy work, so many evidences of His power, that I find it very easy to believe that God created the heavens and the earth. If you are unfamiliar with the way in which God created everything, go next door, or to your local library and borrow a Bible. Then, open it up to the very first book in it - Genesis, and start right off reading in chapter one, with verse one.
    Examples of how I see evidences of God's hand in creation and nature: Thunder. They can scientifically explain away what causes lightening to happen - I want to insert a thought here. Did you know that it is the enzymes that lightening releases, which make the grass turn so green after a good storm? It's not the rain itself, although sometimes just being watered does help the grass to grow and thus turn greener. But it is lightening that makes it brilliantly green. And that supposedly 'just happened' due to some big bang? Hum mmm. But think about thunder. Instead of letting it scare you, marvel at being able to feel God's power in it. How He can make the whole sky rumble. How He can make it sound like there is some gigantic steelie rolling around up there. How He can make it BOOM!! like it sometimes does. That is God demonstrating His power to us. Awesome!!!
    Another example is the seasons. Here in Michigan we get to experience the four seasons full scale. How a tree which has laid dormant all winter, can suddenly start sprouting little buds which then open up into pretty flowers and/or leaves, depending on what type of tree it is, is just amazing. Yes, I know that science has been able to figure that all out too. But then after those trees have been full of leaves, etc. all summer long, the leaves start changing colors. Sometimes slowly, other times seemingly overnight. And yes, science has explanations for this to. BUT, how is it that one leaf, which all summer long was only green in color, can change to being four different colors, none of which are green? Colors which according to how you mix food coloring or paint, could not happen since there was green in the mix. And you know what, I'm okay with science being able to explain how certain things happen. It's rather intriguing. What I can't grasp, is how some claim that all of that came out of some big bang. Just doesn't make sense to me.
    Another example is animal and human life. Let's think about human life. How two little teeny weenie tad pole looking thingies can connect is one thing. But then from them doing so, a human body can form - arms with hands and fingers connected to them. Legs that bend in certain ways and have feet and toes connected to them. Toes which despite their small size help balance a full grown human body. And a head with ears and eyes in it which send signals to this brain and also affect a bodies balance. And think about that brain. About how it's signals control how those legs move, and how those fingers work, and how the food we eat is digested, and the list goes on and on. And ALL of that comes out of those two tiny little tadpole like thingies joining together?! Amazing!! And all of that came out of some big bang happening? Sorry, I just can't grasp it.
    I could go on and on and on with the examples. They are everywhere. They are amazing and wonderful and can delight my spirit and bring smiles to my soul and I love how God shows himself in and through all of them!!! o/~ "Our God is an awesome God!!!" o/~
    So, like I said, I do not and never have had troubles believing that God created the heavens and the earth. It only makes sense from my perspective. However, there is something else about God that I have often struggled with. It has to do with God loving us humans.
    I know he does ... but think about it with me. God loves us humans. Us humans. And not just certain ones, everybody! My goodness. That means that He loves that one particular person whom just drives us over the wall of irritability so fast you can't even blink first! God loves them?!! Yup.
    God loves the same people that we do. And He loves the people that we just like. And He loves the people that we think are just okay. And He loves the people that we're not so sure about. And He loves the ones that we tell our children to stay away from because their bad people. And He loves the ones we describe as low down, dirty, good for nothing, scoundrels. And He even loves the ones whom are below that. God loves everybody. Period.
    That I have often had problems accepting. And even though I was brought up being taught all about God and His love for all of mankind, I have seriously doubted and questioned it. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to me.
    While I would usually rather not admit it, I do know that I am not always the easiest person to love, or even like for that matter. And yet from my perspective at least, I am not t-h-a-t hard to like or love. o:-) But I know some people that I don't see any way they could think such about themselves. I mean really!! You know the ones .... yeah. And yet God loves me even when I am at my absolute worst, and He loves those other people too. How?!!! Like I said, it just doesn't make sense.
    On the other hand, isn't it ever so reassuring?!!! Doesn't it just inspire you to strive to not be unlovable so that He's never tempted to no longer love you - not that He would. He wouldn't. After all, He is God! But come on, we are thinking from human perspectives. Praise God that He always thinks far more rationally!!!
    So-o, I believe that God created the heavens and the earth, and everything there in. And yes, I also believe that He loves each and every single one of us. It's just that I have no challenges believing the first part, but sometimes struggle with the latter part. I do however know both to be true, and I thank Him for both!!! I also thank Him for helping me when I question. He IS an amazing God!!!!!

my view -

 I would much rather give God the glory,

than to believe in coincidence.