A Writers Block

Eww.... what's with all the big words?? This is one I have struggled to pin down for a long time. I read this tonight and it seemed to make sense in a new way. Maybe because I'm a hopeless romantic. Maybe it's because I want to feel lovely and loved, or maybe it's just because God is the Lover of my soul and He took the time to tell me He loves me tonight. "In 'Beauty and the Beast,' it is only when the Beast discovers that Beauty loves him in all his ugliness that he himself becomes beautiful. In the experience of St. Paul, it is only when a person discovers that God really loves him in all his unloveliness that he himself starts to become godlike. Paul's word for this gradual transformation of a sow's ear into a silk purse is sanctification...." I pray that in this process I will become less and less a Beast who can only see ugliness and more and more the Beauty who sees the loveliness in others.

Okay... now that you've choked over the title and had to make yourself start reading, just let your mind wander around in this mush of thoughts. I've been reading in James again. Funny how God just dropped it in my head again. Not that it's a hilarious read... on the contrary, I find it incredibly difficult and convicting. But I've also had some light shed on things I haven't really seen before... like what God really desires and what we've been sidetracked by. First, the icky part... 'what is religion'. I really don't like that word but it's not because of it's true definition but more because of what human nature has done to it. "The term "religion" refers both to the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction. [It] is commonly identified by the practitioner's prayer, ritual, meditation, music, and art, among other things." - that's just one...

This is some of what I said at church the other Sunday... “Inspection stickers used to have printed on the back “Drive carefully – the life you save may be your own.” That is the wisdom of men in a nutshell. What God says, on the other hand, is “The life you save is the life you lose.” In other words, the life you clutch, hoard, guard, and play safe with is in the end a life worth little to anybody, including yourself, and only a life given away for love’s sake is a life worth living. To bring his point home, God shows us a man who gave his life away to the extent of dying a national disgrace without a penny in the bank or a friend to his name.” Frederich Buechner I don’t think I truly knew what that meant until Sierra came along. She’s my extra blessing. Scott and my oldest daughter, Kayla, had made a deal with God that they forgot to let me in on! I was ready to go back to work – climb the ladder, ready to speak like an adult again, ready to have my life back. All of a sudden ...

John 18:9 "I have not lost one of those you gave me." Jesus was speaking of the disciples he had been given by God to train and go on to spread his word. They were regular men just like you and me, and actually the flunkies of seminary school, if you will. Jesus took them, taught them, challenged them, scolded them, and laughed with them. They grew to be hated, hunted, and generally disliked by all important society of the time. They encountered many trials and hardships because of Who they tried to bring glory to. But Jesus never allowed them to be lost. He covered them, counseled and protected them. He didn't keep them from the trials but their actions were testaments to God's glory. Even their deaths brought glory to God. Think about it... we may go through great trials but, if God wants us alive for his purpose, nothing will conquer us. Regardless of what I may face in speaking or acting upon God's truth, my life or death is in His hands and EITHER can be used...

Thanksgiving is on its way. Don’t you cry. Then they will say Thanksgiving is here. Do not worry. Don’t be sad. This is the time of giving and also being glad! We are all here on Thanksgiving day. We are all here and there. Thanksgiving is on its way! by: Kayla K. Easter, Easter is the day he died. He’s the one who saves us all. He’s on every wall. He saved us. He saved us. He was little just like us. We will grow just like him. We will! We will! Yes, we will! by: Kayla K.

My family, prompted by one of the sisters, has been trying to come up with hubby-proof arguments on why we wives should hire "molly maid" to come clean rather than having to do it ourselves. It was pretty funny so I'd thought I'd post the weigh-ins. Only the names have been omitted to save face. Enjoy the laughs. Reason Reply #1: Let's see... To keep your kid from getting sick more often, to keep your allergies in better shape, to keep company from coming over and being aghast at the condition of your bathroom, to KEEP YOU SANE and therefore prevent you from driving your hubby mad and having your child end up in juvi, it will save your marriage (a last resort), or, you can always pull a fast one and tell him, "It's in the contract. Don't you remember how amazing and sweet you were in telling me when we got married that you wanted to make things easier on me and take care of me? I loved that you were so considerate and thoughtful." "Wow! I ne...

I've been reading John and when I hit chapter 10 it was like I slowed to a crawl. There was so much to pull from it that I had to slow down! The section I just finished was the one where Jesus talks about being the good shepherd. Many of us have heard the part, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy...." but I wonder if anyone has bothered to read past that. I never had until today. Jesus says that he is the good shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep but a hired hand will flee at the coming of a wolf. The hired hand does not care for the flock as Jesus does and therefore will run away to save himself. Then the wolf attacks and scatters the flock. I got to wondering if the "hired hands" Jesus talks about are those who are in ministry for the wrong reasons. Many who minister for the right reasons work daily to remain in tune with God's desires and are extensions of the Shepherd's staff, ready for any attack. But some lose their way, ...