You get to.
Ella Kate: 3 months
Ella Kate: 4 months
Ella Kate: 5 months
Ella Kate: 6 months
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Grandma
One of the best things about being a Mom is that you "get" to invest your life, heart and soul into your children. That is also one of the best things about being a Grandma!
You get to.
Ella Kate: 3 months
Ella Kate: 4 months
Ella Kate: 5 months
Ella Kate: 6 months
You get to.
Ella Kate: 3 months Ella Kate: 4 months Ella Kate: 5 months Ella Kate: 6 months
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Remembered Joy
Remembering Mom...
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all...
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life's been full, I've savored much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don't shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
from Irish Blessings
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all...
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life's been full, I've savored much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don't shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
from Irish Blessings
Saturday, March 19, 2011
In My Arms
Holding a child in your arms. Loving them.
Feeding them. Nurturing them. Rocking them to sleep.
What a priviledge. What an honor. What a gift.
Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of children!
There is no higher calling. There is no greater joy.
Eight weeks was not enough. But it was sure something.
And I will see you again soon.
Feeding them. Nurturing them. Rocking them to sleep.
What a priviledge. What an honor. What a gift.
Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of children!
There is no higher calling. There is no greater joy.
Eight weeks was not enough. But it was sure something.
And I will see you again soon.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Science vs: Faith
Do YOU believe?
'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.
'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young man, Is God good?'
'Yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God...'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'
The student: 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.
The class is mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God.
There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.
'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.
'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
After what seems an eternity, the professor answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'
The professor sat down.
'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.
'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young man, Is God good?'
'Yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God...'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'
The student: 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom.
The class is mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God.
There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.
'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.
'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
After what seems an eternity, the professor answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'
The professor sat down.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Daughter
Parents hold their children’s hands for a while… and their hearts forever. — An Old Proverb
I want you to appreciate your uniqueness.
Acknowledge your talents and abilities.
Realize what a beautiful soul you have.
Understand the wonder within.
You impress me with all the things you have learned,
all the things you care about, and all the things you understand.
If I were given a chance to be anything I wanted to become, there is nothing I would rather be than your parent. And there is no one I would rather have as my daughter. We have shared so much together, you and I. I have spent more moments than you will ever know hoping, praying, worrying, wondering, reminiscing about the past, projecting into the future, and always feeling incredibly privileged that the gift of being your parent was given to someone as thankful as me. You are on my mind so often. I think about our joys, our tears, our talks, our hugs… our bond that has been with us from the very beginning and that continues on, loving and strong, to this day. I am thinking of you now, and remembering you back then, with wonder in my heart.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I want you to know that I would gladly drop whatever I’m doing, at any time of the day, just to have a chance to give you a hug, and to say how much I care, and to share a few moments with you. I take comfort in knowing that the caring and closeness between us will never change, and that you will always be in my heart.
I am amazed at how the seasons have flown by, how you grew so quickly, right before my very eyes. When I look at you, I see someone I cherish. I see someone I love with every heartbeat, every remembered smile, every hope, every prayer, and every treasured memory. When I look at you, I also see someone who has so many paths yet to walk, opportunities to explore, and stars to keep reaching for. As the years go by, my prayers will travel beside you on all your journeys.
I love you so much. I want you to remember that every single day. I want you to know that these are the things I will always pray:
That the world will treat you fairly.
That God will give you favor in the eyes of those you meet and work with.
That you will be safe and smart and sure.
That you will make good choices on your journey through life.
That opportunities will come your way.
That your blessings will be many.
That life will be generous to you.
That you will always be patient with the problems of life.
Happiness. Whatever direction your path may take.
Serenity.
Wisdom.
Courage.
Strength.
Success.
Close and caring friends. The kind that keep getting better & better
Love that never ends. The kind that blesses you forever.
Present moments and Special memories.
A thankful heart.
May you hold on to your sense of humor.
May you brighten the lives of those who know you.
May you go beyond the ordinary steps and discover extraordinary results.
May you keep on trying.
May you meet every challenge
May you recognize every opportunity.
May you be blessed with the knowledge that you have the ability to make every day special.
May your needs be met.
Dreams. Strong enough to keep them alive.
Peace. Deep down in your soul.
Joy.
May you never lose that sense of wonder.
New beginnings.
May you always be gentle enough to understand.
Understanding.
The Abundant Life.
Your are a tremendously extraordinary person. All the different facets of your life—the ones you reveal to the rest of the world, and the ones known only to those you are close to—are precious and rare. As people look even deeper, I know they cannot help but see how intrinsically beautiful you are.
There are gifts that are far above priceless.
There are memories that are made of pure love.
There are special miracles that really do come true.
All my life, you will always be a wonderful gift, a treasure of memories, and an amazing miracle. What an honor it has been to watch you grow and then blossom into someone I admire and adore with all my heart. Thank you for enriching my life beyond imaginings. Thank you for the grace and the goodness, the hopes, the memories, and the joy. Thank you for bringing so many priceless gifts to me.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Love well
Let’s Talk About Love
Do you love?
Do you love well?
The Bible instructs us to LOVE:
God (Mt 22:37),
one another (1 Pet 4:8),
our neighbors (Rm 13:9),
our enemies (Lk 6:27),
our husbands (Tit 2:4), and
our wives (Eph 5:25,33).
We are commanded NOT to love
recognition (Lk 11:43),
money (Heb 13:5), or the
world (1 Jn 2:15).
So what IS love?
The dictionary defines love as tenderness, affection, passion, warm feelings, etc.
There are 20-30 definitions, depending upon the dictionary.
The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8 and 16 that “God is love” — HE is the definition of love. We also see in Galatians 5:22 that love is one of the fruits of the Spirit of God—a fruit that we can bear when we abide in Christ.
The Bible further defines what love is, where it comes from, and what it is not:
Love is kind. (1 Col 13:4)
Love is not rude. (1 Col 13:5)
Love comes from a pure heart. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love does not boast and is not proud. (1 Col 13:4)
Love is humble. (Eph 4:2)
Love builds up, edifies, and encourages. (1 Col 8:1)
Love is gentle. (Eph 4:2)
Love is not self-seeking. (1 Col 13:5)
Love is sincere. (Rom 12:9)
Love does not envy. (1 Col 13:4)
Love binds us together in perfect unity. (Col 3:14)
Love trusts. (1 Col 13:7)
Love is not easily provoked or angered. (1 Col 13:5)
Love comes from a good conscience. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love is patient. (1 Col 13:4)
Love keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Col 13:5)
Love hopes. (1 Col 13:7)
Love is better than life. (Ps 63:3)
Love comes from a sincere faith. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love protects. (1 Col 13:7)
Love perseveres. (1 Col 13:7)
Love never fails. (1 Col 13:8)
“There is no fear in love.” (1 Jn 4:18)
God’s love is made complete in Jesus Christ. (1 Jn 2:5)
“This is love: …that He [God the Father]…sent His Son [Jesus] as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 Jn 4:10)
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. …This is my command: Love each other.” (Jn 15:9,17)
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19)
“Live a life of love.” (Eph 5:2)
“This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more.” (Phil 1:9)
Love well.
Do you love?
Do you love well?
The Bible instructs us to LOVE:
God (Mt 22:37),
one another (1 Pet 4:8),
our neighbors (Rm 13:9),
our enemies (Lk 6:27),
our husbands (Tit 2:4), and
our wives (Eph 5:25,33).
We are commanded NOT to love
recognition (Lk 11:43),
money (Heb 13:5), or the
world (1 Jn 2:15).
So what IS love?
The dictionary defines love as tenderness, affection, passion, warm feelings, etc.
There are 20-30 definitions, depending upon the dictionary.
The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8 and 16 that “God is love” — HE is the definition of love. We also see in Galatians 5:22 that love is one of the fruits of the Spirit of God—a fruit that we can bear when we abide in Christ.
The Bible further defines what love is, where it comes from, and what it is not:
Love is kind. (1 Col 13:4)
Love is not rude. (1 Col 13:5)
Love comes from a pure heart. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love does not boast and is not proud. (1 Col 13:4)
Love is humble. (Eph 4:2)
Love builds up, edifies, and encourages. (1 Col 8:1)
Love is gentle. (Eph 4:2)
Love is not self-seeking. (1 Col 13:5)
Love is sincere. (Rom 12:9)
Love does not envy. (1 Col 13:4)
Love binds us together in perfect unity. (Col 3:14)
Love trusts. (1 Col 13:7)
Love is not easily provoked or angered. (1 Col 13:5)
Love comes from a good conscience. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love is patient. (1 Col 13:4)
Love keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Col 13:5)
Love hopes. (1 Col 13:7)
Love is better than life. (Ps 63:3)
Love comes from a sincere faith. (1 Tim 1:5)
Love protects. (1 Col 13:7)
Love perseveres. (1 Col 13:7)
Love never fails. (1 Col 13:8)
“There is no fear in love.” (1 Jn 4:18)
God’s love is made complete in Jesus Christ. (1 Jn 2:5)
“This is love: …that He [God the Father]…sent His Son [Jesus] as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 Jn 4:10)
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. …This is my command: Love each other.” (Jn 15:9,17)
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19)
“Live a life of love.” (Eph 5:2)
“This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more.” (Phil 1:9)
Love well.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Ella Kate
My first grandchild was born today. An amazing miracle from God; we are so very thankful. Everyone keeps telling me that having grandchildren is better than having your own children. The verdict is still out on that for me. I do not see how it could be better than having my own... for that was and is truly amazing.
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