Who are we

My heart has really been heavy lately with the trends that I have been learning about in the world. Athiests are on the decline as "spiritualists" are increasing. People these days enjoy all things "Spiritual". You just have to look as top-selling movies to see that that is the case.

But what those same people don't enjoy is hearing that there is an ultimate truth? Because in todays post-modern society people have been lulled into believing that all truth is truth (which is crazy because by definition there can only be one truth) and they believe that no one knows all truth.

They seem to forget that there is (and has) for thousands of years has been a standard of truth that will not (no matter how much people may want it to) go away.
It is called the Bible, it has been burned, banned, and mocked but it still remains, why..because truth cannot be squashed.

And even those of us who call ourselves Christians have been lulled into thinking that just saying that we are a Christian means we are "good" with "the big G". That we can live our own life, totally ignoring Gods ways, never reading your bible, praying, going to church on a regular basis, or listening to God speak to daily, and it will still be good because "Big G" know we like him.

It saddens me that today’s culture had so ingrained in us that it is "All about us" that we never for a second even consider the fact that maybe it isn't.

For those of us who tend to view our image as towering above Gods, or maybe we tend to think that we can make our own rules, I offer the following...

GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
2-11 "Why do you confuse the issue?
Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.
Then I made a playpen for it,
a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose,
And said, 'Stay here, this is your place.
Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'

12-15 "And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!'
told Dawn, 'Get to work!'
So you could seize Earth like a blanket
and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?
As the sun brings everything to light,
brings out all the colors and shapes,
The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked—
they're caught in the very act!

16-18 "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things,
explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
Do you know the first thing about death?
Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?
And do you have any idea how large this earth is?
Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.

19-21 "Do you know where Light comes from
and where Darkness lives
So you can take them by the hand
and lead them home when they get lost?
Why, of course you know that.
You've known them all your life,
grown up in the same neighborhood with them!

22-30 "Have you ever traveled to where snow is made,
seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness
for times of trouble and battle and war?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched,
or to the place from which the wind blows?
Who do you suppose carves canyons
for the downpours of rain, and charts
the route of thunderstorms
That bring water to unvisited fields,
deserts no one ever lays eyes on,
Drenching the useless wastelands
so they're carpeted with wildflowers and grass?
And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
the mother of ice and frost?
You don't for a minute imagine
these marvels of weather just happen, do you?

31-33 "Can you catch the eye of the beautiful Pleiades sisters,
or distract Orion from his hunt?
Can you get Venus to look your way,
or get the Great Bear and her cubs to come out and play?
Do you know the first thing about the sky's constellations
and how they affect things on Earth?

34-35 "Can you get the attention of the clouds,
and commission a shower of rain?
Can you take charge of the lightning bolts
and have them report to you for orders?
What Do You Have to Say for Yourself? (Job 38 Message)

Look we all have fallen short of the Glory of God. I cannot tell you how many times I have. Yet I desire daily to know Him more.
If you have not yet done so I ask you to ask God, The Father, The maker of Heaven and Earth, to revel himself to you. He is bigger that we give him credit for and more than we will ever need.

He is "The Truth" and who are we to agrue with that!!!!!

Cancer Sucks - Cancer cure fund raiser

Below Is info about how you can help a person who has commited to raising money for a nobel cause --- destroying cancer. Please consider helping.

This fall, I'm taking an amazing journey!
I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
My team name is "The Pink Breast Savers". A few of my friends kind of bailed out on me, so I am the Captain and the team. You know how I like being in control! Actually, they really were overwhelmed. When they realized how much training was involved, preparation and customization costs of their personnel equipment, emotions, etc.. Well, I let them off the hook for now. Payback comes later $$. So, I'm looking for teammates. This really is a journey and to show respect for these women that we will give it our all and more to fight for them.
Please forward this information and/or tell your family, friends, co-workers, the cashier at Albertson's, your dentist, etc. If you don't have a dentist, find someone who does and send it to theirs! Well, why not? At the very least someone will become wiser on the fight for the cure and that's one of our goals isn't it? Hey... It's a win/win.
I've agreed to raise $2,300 in donations (min. requirement to walk). I've set my personal goal at $5,000 to start. So I need your help. Would you please consider making a donation ? Keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train. You can give online at www.The3Day.org. Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage, read my story and make a donation.
According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, approximately 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Kindest Regards,Michele Cosgrove206-909-1038 cellCosgrove.4@verizon.netSTILL NEED A TENT MATE! ANY TAKERS? JOIN MY TEAM!
Smile it's food for the soul! (smile)P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program! Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SeattleEvent?px=3366825&pg=personal&fr_id=1300&et=bSRwNWLGaj_iWZtReNVkyw..&s_tafId=228873 Click here to view the team page for Pink Breast SaversIf the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/SeattleEvent?team_id=96991&pg=team&fr_id=1300&et=0RrA0bx9lYO2qaNpFCKpzw..&s_tafId=228873
For more information about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, Susan G. Komen for the Cure or the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, visit http://www.the3day.org/ or call 800.996.3DAY.
Click any of the logos below for more information about that sponsor/partner.Presenting Sponsor of the Breast Cancer 3-Day:
National Series Sponsors of the Breast Cancer 3-Day:
Official Media Partners of the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day:Radio Partner:TV Partner:
© 2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day. 205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2640, Chicago IL 60601

Free At Last

I was reading this great book by Pastor Larry Huch and I came across this passage that was so well put I had to share. So if there is anyone out there reading this...enjoy!

The enemy never gives up. He never rests in his battle to defeat us...The devil comes to you and says "You know what you still have that anger problem. You'll never change...You still have that depression...alchol or drug problem. You'll never change. You've been born again but your a hypocrate because you are going through your second divorce and you will never change".

You are standing before the throne of grace but the devil is still accusing you day and night.

The Father leans down and asks "How do you plead?"

You know the accusations are true because you really have these faults.

You look up at the Father and plead "Guilty".

Then the Father leans down and says "Don't plead Guilty son." Don't plead guilty daughter." Plead the blood of Jesus. Don't plead alchol, plead the blood. Don't plead failure, plead the blood. Don't plead poverty, plead the blood. You have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus!"

Well said Larry!!!!!

What Jotham did wrong

God is so cool! I love how He will suprised me with the truth when I least expect it.

Yesterday I wrote about Jothem and I think that I called him a good guy (ok I realize no one is really good except God). Anyway I knew that he as well as Allan and all of us had flaws but as of yesterday I knew of no major ones.

Today is a whole new story though as I read in 2 Kings 15 :32-35 Message version says "He acted well in God's eyes, ... But he didn't interfere with the traffic to the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines; they continued, as popular as ever. The construction of the High Gate to The Temple of God was his work"

Wow! when I read that I felt a little like I have been slammed over the head with a frying pan. No I am not saying that it had anything to do with why he died but it does clearly that God sees what we do and what we don't do.

Look at the last sentence there. The construction of the High Gate to The Temple of God was his work He obviously did some good things in his life but he turned his eyes to injustice.

How many times have I turned the channel when a picture of a child with an extended stomach from lack of food upset me....how many days have I really spent reaching out to the homeless or how often have tried to expose and help fix the diseased areas in my community.

I don't want to spend my life doing good and only be known for what I could"ve done but didn't.

And I know that I don't have to do it all. The verse said he didn't interfere with the traffic to the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines; they continued, as popular as ever . It looks to me like he didn't even try and make a difference.

I believe that from now on when assessing my life I will not ast myself "What have I done" but "what have I left undone?"

Now the Kicker

It says in the next chapter of Kings that Jothams son...participated in the activities of the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines that flourished all over the place

Wow looks like what Jotham did wrong had a direct effect on his descendants.

Why?

At the beginning of summer I determined with all that I had to start every day with my journal, my Bible, and my Savior. Having ADD has caused me to never be the most disciplined of persons but I knew that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" so I foraged ahead and suprisingly (or not) have only missed one day. Ok I know summer just started but seriously 10 days in a row is alot for this girl.

Anyway one of the things that has began to happen is a sheer excitement for what I will find in the pages. So interesting! Likin 2 CHR 26 it talks about how this guy names Uzziah (I like to call him Uz for short) became king at 16 years of age. Think about it 16. No one should be driving at that age let alone be in control of a kingdom. So at first he followed Godthe Message says "he was a loyal seeker of God" and he did alot of good. He built alot of things and had a huge army.

The Message says Uz was

"a famous king. Everything seemed to go his way.
16-18 But then the strength and success went to his head. Arrogant and proud, he fell. One day, contemptuous of God, he walked into The Temple of God like he owned it and took over, burning incense on the Incense Altar. The priest Azariah, backed up by eighty brave priests of God, tried to prevent him. They confronted Uzziah: "You must not, you cannot do this, Uzziah—only the Aaronite priests, especially consecrated for the work, are permitted to burn incense. Get out of God's Temple; you are unfaithful and a disgrace!"
19-21 But Uzziah, censer in hand, was already in the middle of doing it and angrily rebuffed the priests. He lost his temper; angry words were exchanged—and then, even as they quarreled, a skin disease appeared on his forehead. As soon as they saw it, the chief priest Azariah and the other priests got him out of there as fast as they could. He hurried out—he knew that God then and there had given him the disease. Uzziah had his skin disease for the rest of his life and had to live in quarantine; he was not permitted to set foot in The Temple of God. His son Jotham, who managed the royal palace, took over the government of the country.
22-23 The rest of the history of Uzziah, from start to finish, was written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. When Uzziah died, they buried him with his ancestors in a field next to the royal cemetery. His skin disease disqualified him from burial in the royal cemetery. His son Jotham became the next king"

So Uz had everything but like so many people everything wasn't enough. He wanted total and complete power when there is only one who has that.

I thought it was interesting that the disease appeared on his forhead. I guess God wanted to give everyone a visable symbol not to get big headed.

Then his son took over. His sons name was Jotham. I also found it interesting that the bible says that UZ was 16 when he became king and reigned for 52 years and his son who was his opposite in death was 25 when he became king and reigned for 16 years.

Ok so that is a ramdom thought (hence the blog title).

Anyway the bible says that "Jotham's strength was rooted in his steady and determined life of obedience to God". Any yet he died young. Why?

Why was his life cut short? Ok so I am not a bible scholar (yet) so I don't know all the histories and backgrounds and so forth. But looking at his fathers lifespan compared to his you gotta ask..;"why do the good die young?"

When Allan got cancer the first time. He got saved as a result. Right after I had 2 people tell me in tears(one was a complete stranger) that God was going take him early before he could go back to his old self. Well I was pretty suprised when he was almost cancer free that first time. I thought they got signels crossed. But now in light of what has happened I often wonder if that is why he is gone.

I wonder if Jotham would he have turned out like his dad? I am not sure if I will ever know the answers why, but I have gotten to a point where I am ok with not knowing. Because I know the one who does. And I know that His reasons are just.

So in the end big headed Uz and obedient Jotham serve as a reminder to me that in light of eternity that what is important is not the number of our days but how we live them out.

Who needs a father anyway

She sat on the stoop waiting, her heart heavy and aching with anticipation so strongly that at times she wished she didn’t have one. She had been there for an hour or more with no sign. Yet she wasn’t too worried because she had her ace in the hole.
Another hour. She was lost in thought when her mama came up behind her and tried to gently guide her into the house. She would have none of it. Breaking from her mother’s grasp she said defiantly, “No! This time he is coming! He is. I know it deep, deep in me. He is!” Her words were strong yet after her mother left her she could not help but to let out a sigh and ask herself, “Is he really?”
Many times her resolve was tempted with things like a bike ride to the park with the next door neighbor’s family (a real one, she thought to herself) or a game of kick the can in the street with a group of kids from the neighborhood. But she would not budge. She was convinced that this time he would come. Sure, in the past he may not have always kept his word, but this time was different.
Today was her tenth birthday, and instead of the latest game, record, or book, she had asked for and (because money was tight) received only three things: a grown up dress (not from the kid section), a pretty pink shawl, and a brand new pair of one inch heels. She had never worn high heels before, so had practiced and practiced in them until she could walk without tottering. She couldn’t wait to show off her new skill to her daddy.
He had once told her in the past that when she was more grown up he would spend more time with her. “Grown up how?” she had asked. He pointed to a woman who wore a long flowing dress with a pink shawl and high heels. From then on she dreamed of the day when she would be old enough to wear high heels and a long flowing dress.
Another hour and the air was starting to get a chill in it. She could not tell, but her mother was inside frantically trying to get ahold of him to no avail. He was as he always was.
Another hour and the darkness started to descend. It was then she knew the truth... you know, that thing that’ll set you free. So she took off the high heels that she had practiced so hard to walk in, threw them away, and went inside. Heavy-hearted, she went straight to bed.
When her mother came in later to tell her how sorry she was, the little girl just shrugged her shoulders and remarked, “Who needs a father anyway?”

This is a taste of my book... To know God as Father. This bit is designed to show the hurt children feel when their fathers aren't around.

If you like it please join the group I have created for it to help spread the word of the forthcoming book that is designed to show is we all need God no matter weather our earthly fathers were Good or had some hurts that held them back from exemplifying God Love to Us.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=100518640987&ref=ts

The Celebrity Tri-factor

Well it happened once again..1.2.3..... three icons of American entertainment are gone. It just goes to prove that it doesn't matter who you are, how good you think you have been, or how much money you have...death waits for no one.

It is said that the average person spends more time planning where they will go on vacation than where they will spend all eternity.

Life is but a puff of smoke in light of eternity, I urge you who haven't done so to Ask God to reveal to you who He is.

Death is something that most of us do not wish to think about and yet it is only a matter of time before we all experience it.

The good news is that Jesus died so that we can live on.

John 3:16 (The Message)
16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

If you have yet to fully give your life to Jesus I encourage you to do so...or at least start to look into weather or not Jesus might really be who He says He is.

For Ed, Farrah, and Michael, there time has past. Their decisions have been made. Don't let death catch you by surprise.