Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Prematurity Awareness Day is November 15th

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pad/


Thank you all in advance for your support with the March of Dimes and our mission to fight Prematurity, Birth Defects and Infant Mortality. Please visit the website above at your convenience. Please take note of the “spread the word” section and all that it offers.

If your company has a website, you can easily download an awareness banner to it. The e-cards are spectacular! Help Mississippi March of Dimes spread the word about the seriousness of premature birth. Perhaps your group could wear pink and/or blue on November 15th in honor of premature babies.

Thank you for supporting the March of Dimes mission to help save babies!!


Connie J. Snell

Community Director

March of Dimes

777-B Holly Hill Drive

Tupelo, MS 38801

662-844-6901 (office)

662-844-6963 (fax)

Monday, October 24, 2005

How to start your Day!

Rules from God
1. Wake Up !!

Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the thin gs man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!!

Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!...

For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything..
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Ther efore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."

Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!...

To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians
4:13

6. Reach Up !!...

For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!...

Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

Do you smell that?

Yesterday was our March Of Dimes Walk for the Starkville area! Alex was chosen as ambassador and it was a blast. Getting to share the joy of Alex's life with others is such a blessing. Although no one can truly understand where we have been or what we went through it was AWESOME to get to let them peer into that window. Alex hammed it up for everyone too... We got interviewed for the WCBI news and were on the 10:00 news! PLUS.. had an interview with The Starkville Daily News. I have to go buy one today to see if we are in it! With no family here I just love it when others shower Alex with love as if they were our family! Connie the director of the March of Dimes for our area does just that, and Alex loves her right back!! We raised $230.00 and were very excited with that. I received this e-mail this morning and thought it went well with my day yesterday!!

DO YOU SMELL THAT?


At the end of this story, it gives you two options. I think

you will figure out what option I chose.

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas

as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana

Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband,

David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the

latest news.

That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced

Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency

Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu

Blessing.

At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces,

they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the

doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.

"I don't think she's going to make it," he said, as kindly

as he could.

"There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the

night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make

it, her future could be a very cruel one."

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor

described the devastating problems Dana would likely face

if she survived.

She would never walk, she would never talk, she would

probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to

other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to

complete mental retardation, and on and on.

"No! No!" was all Diana could say.

She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long

dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a

family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream

was slipping away.

But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for

David and Diana.

Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous system was

essentially 'raw,' the lightest kiss or caress only

intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle

their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the

strength of their love. All they could do, as Dana

struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle

of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close

to their precious little girl.

There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger.

But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of

weight here and an ounce of strength there.

At last, when Dana turned two months old, her parents were

able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And

two months later, though doctors continued to gently but

grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living

any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home

from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young

girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for

life. She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or

physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little

girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the

end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her

home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap

in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother

Dustin's baseball team was practicing.

As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and

several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell

silent.

Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, "Do

you smell that?"

Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a

thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."

Dana closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?"

Once again, her mother replied,

"Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain."

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her

thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced,

"No, it smells like Him.

It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to

play with the other children.

Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what

Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family

had known, at least in their hearts, all along.

During those long days and nights of her first two months

of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to

touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His

loving scent that she remembers so well.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

BFL.... Hmph....

Okay today is Day 11 of my new Body For Life Healthy Eating lifestyle. I lost 2 pounds as of day 7. BUT... I don't feel like anything is changing this week. Hmph.. I thought taking away all that soda I was drinking and sweet tea I would see a bigger drop in weight right away. I guess I need to be patient and I really STINK at being patient! LOL.... If you could send me some patient prayers and some will power that would be awesome!!!!

Ohhh... I am really enjoying cooking the meals at night though! It has REALLY helped me to make a weekly menu so I know I have everything I need, and also... Can prepare in advance. This way by the time Rick walks in the door dinner is just about ready to hit the table!

I prepped for our dinner this morning, we are having chicken enchiladas! YEP... straight out of the Eating for Life cookbook! So far this week we have had Baked Chicken Tenders, Shrimp Scampi, and French Dip. Everything has tasted GREAT!!

I need to start getting more exercise.. I think that is the biggest challenge I am facing right now!

Survivor is on tonight.. Woo Hoo!!!! Ohh and I am loving Amazing Race this season!!!

Get your Flu shot!!

I heard about a 3 year old in Texas who recently died of the flu! I know every year it seems like we are being told this years flu is going to be the worst yet... It's only October and already children are dieing! That scares me.... Alex has been fighitng a chest cold for 2 weeks now. His cough is so wet and nasty sounding. Wheezing... fighting for each breathe, breaks my heart. He is having a tough time shaking this "bug". He is back to hhis old self again though after those stupid steroids which seem like they did nothing for him! Grrrrr.. NEVER again!!! There MUST be something else he could take.

Sooo PLEASE go get your children a flu shot, and one for you too!!!!

Friday, October 14, 2005

Family Portrait

I thought this really hit home as soo many people always say I don't have enough money to give.. but do you ever have not enough talents to give??


Family Portrait

by John Fischer

I have a friend who heads up an inner city ministry to homeless teenagers. Some are runaways, some have been kicked out of their homes, and others prefer homelessness to the abuse they experience at home. In a letter to some supporters, he talked of stumbling onto a box of old photographs while doing some cleaning in his garage. “As the box emptied, forgotten memories instantly found their place on the walls and shelves in our home,” he wrote. “The photographs had always been with us, just not seen, and the memories they prompted had always been with us, just not recalled.”

Then he went on to tell of a unique gift from a professional photographer who was a supporter of their ministry. This man got the brilliant idea to volunteer a day of his time, bring his portrait studio equipment downtown and transform the ministry’s coffee shop into a studio. There he offered free portraits for the street kids, many of whom took advantage of it. Knowing a little bit about this business and what that photographer could have received at market value for each of these portraits adds up to a very significant gift.

Some of us may not have money to give, but time and expertise wisely spent can be worth even more. For instance, I know of a church that periodically offers free car tune-ups and oil changes in their parking lot for single moms on Saturday mornings. It was the brainchild of an auto mechanic in the church who wanted to share his expertise with someone in the community he knew needed it.

We need to be thinking not just of giving money to needy causes, but also of how we can serve with our time and our talents. Besides, services like this go way beyond their monetary value. Think of the value and self-worth that a good professional portrait must have bestowed upon these homeless kids. And then think of some of their estranged families who will receive a portrait full of memories in the mail – memories that might put that kid up on the shelf or wall again and maybe even serve to reunite a family.

In his conclusion, my friend wrote: “As this year’s holiday season approaches and you get out your own cameras, converting your living rooms into portrait studios, cherish each person, remember them, and love them like you have never loved them before. And please, when you get the pictures back, take a moment and pray for homeless kids everywhere, and for their families, who might be finding pictures stowed away in garages, that some day their lives might reconcile.”

“God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

.................. TGIF ......................

Is it wrong to be celebrating that my child went back to school today??

I think he may FINALLY be on the mend! I seriously was starting to wonder. He is still coughing and extra tired but the fever has been gone since Wednesday. He took his last dose of both the antibiotic and the steroid. (THANK GOD)! That steroid really has done a number on him. Yesterday he was climbing onto the roof of cars at the car dealership. Oh yeah... they saw the full white trash effect. I am certain I left with them shaking their heads at me. LOL.. Ahhh Gotta love it. Hopefully with the steroids leaving his system his aggression will start to subside and normal behavior will come back. One can only hope.
I did take Alex for a bike ride yesterday. He has been cooped up in the house for so long I thought it might be good to burn some of his energy off. We rode about 1.5 to 2 miles. We got back in the truck to drive home and he was asleep in less than 3 minutes at 11:30 in the morning!! Totally abnormal! He slept for about 2 hours which is a normal nap for him. BUT, when he woke up it was as if he hadn't slept at all. By 5:00 he is UGLY.... we got dinner into him, forced a bath upon him (while he screamed the entire time), then off to bed he went! He went down at 7:20 and only woke twice during the night!!

Can I just say... WOW... now I know what normal family's get with a wonderful sleeping child. Yippeee!!! Rick and I actually got to be married! We actually got to communicate, and watch TV together. It was HEAVENLY!!!! Now.. if I could get him to do that every night we would be sooo golden!!

We plan on going to a fun festival tomorrow.... Hope you all have a great weekend too!

A Little Ice Cream is Good for the Soul!

Thanks to my friend Stacy for e-mailing this to me!! I just loved it and had to share with all of you!

Thank God for Children Saying Grace...

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old
son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!" Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes." Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."

I loved this story! Please keep it moving. Sometimes we all need some ice cream. I hope God sends you some Ice Cream today!

Thursday, October 13, 2005

"Whose Child is That?"

Who's Child is THAT?? I can't even tell you how many times I have asked this question as I watch my child act exactly like I do. Dramtic, insane, stubborn, active.... ahh... My Friend Emily got this in an e-mail from her friend Christy and I felt it was far to important not to post here!! I hope you get something out of it as well!!


Whose Child Is That?
What to do when you see your worst faults in your child
by Karen R. Morerod


Where are my keys?" my teenaged son yelled as he stormed through the house. "They've got to be somewhere!" As he flung newspapers across the living room, he fumed with increasing drama: "They don't just walk away! Has anybody seen my keys?!"

Of course, I tried to help: "I'm sure they're somewhere. Just calm down. Throwing a fit isn't going to make them show up any faster." But inwardly, I cringed as I watched his performance—he was acting just like me!

My daughter has tried to capitalize on this concept of "acting just like Mom." Fully aware of her mother's tarnished driving record, my daughter once asked an officer giving her a speeding ticket, "Instead of pleading guilty, could I just claim 'heredity' as my defense?"

In all seriousness, these situations always put me in a quandary. As I see a behavior in my kids that needs to be corrected—like tantrums or speeding—feelings of hypocrisy surface. I wonder how to handle the situation—knowing full well I've modeled the behavior.

I know I'm to "train up a child in the way he should go" and "not withhold discipline from a child" (Proverbs 22:6; 23:13). But I feel guilty when I remember that in Ephesians 6:4 we're told not to "exasperate (our) children …" Do I exasperate my children with the double standard of "it's okay for me, but not for you"?

How do we as parents respond when our children imitate sinful behaviors they've seen in us? After 20 humbling years of parenting, I've discovered some insights that help me sort through my struggles in this area. Here are five strategies I use when I see my children living out my mess-ups:

1. I admit my own fault. James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed …" Confess to my children? Well, maybe not all my sins, but certainly ones that we both deal with are appropriate. I find myself saying things like, "It's obvious you have seen me slam doors, but that doesn't make it right," or to my teenage driver, "I know I have a lead foot, but we both need to obey the speed limit." In doing this, my kids see that when it comes to sin, we're on level ground before God. As I admit my own faults, I assure them that I regret my actions. Then I remind my kids that they need to ask God's forgiveness, just as I do. It's my desire that talking about the confession and forgiveness process in my own life will set the proper example for my kids.

2. I hold Jesus up as their example. If your children are like mine, they're perceptive and very honest. I remember being rather critical of a sales clerk while shopping with my son. My grumbling comments must have made a (bad!) impression on my 11-year-old. Several days later at the mall, my son began making judgmental comments about other shoppers. As I attempted to rein in his negativity, he was quick to remind me that I, too, had been guilty of criticizing others. He was right, and it prompted a great lesson about how Jesus loves and extends grace toward all people. I reminded my son that although I try to imitate Christ's loving behavior, he should be looking to Jesus Christ as his example—not me. That doesn't give me an "out" or an excuse to continue behaving badly, but points them toward the true standard to live by. It also humbly reminds me of whom I should be imitating.

3. I pray. There is so much to pray about in parenting. When my perceptive little munchkins remind me of my shortcomings, I'm reminded to pray for a change in my behavior. I've felt some growing pains as God works on my sinful words and actions, but I emerge a better mom afterward. Often I ask God to reveal things I'm not even aware of that affect my parenting. And, of course, I pray that each day my children will grow closer to God.

4. I depend on the Holy Spirit. One of my biggest challenges is letting the Holy Spirit work in my kids' lives. Even though I still need to guide and discipline, the Spirit should be active and alive in their hearts. And because every one of my five children is different, that activity varies from child to child. I've prayed that the Spirit will give one child confidence of who he is in Christ—something I struggle with in my life. I've prayed that another child will treat others with love and compassion, despite our failures to be patient and loving at home.

As much as my children see me "fall short of the glory of God," and as much as I'd like to lecture my kids about how they shouldn't imitate my wrong behavior, I know that a gentle, firm tug from God's Spirit can do much more than a "nagging" parent. This becomes even more vital as my children grow into young adulthood. Though I am still Mom, my role changes as they gain more freedom to make their own choices about relationships, jobs, leisure activities, education, and so on. I certainly want them to be spared some of the wrong decisions I made in my younger years; however, I realize the most beneficial work in these growing children is the work of God's Spirit.

5. I live in the freedom Jesus Christ gives. Since harsh words and impatient attitudes are frequent offenses in our family, it would be easy for me to live in guilt over the bad example I've set. But several years ago, Romans 8:1 became a key verse in my life: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." As I recall this verse, I remind myself that, as a Christian, I do not stand condemned. I stand in grace and forgiveness by what Jesus Christ did on the cross. That brings freedom in two areas: it frees me from the guilt of my own sinful actions, and, it frees me to confront my children confidently when they are unloving and impatient with each other. When we view our family as sinners saved by grace and believers who live under grace, we feel freedom in knowing we can confess our sin and receive forgiveness from each other and from God.

These lessons have been a tremendous help in my personal life. First, as I see myself mirrored through my children, I'm reminded of areas where I need to grow and change. It's prompted me to be more diligent in praying for transformations in my life.

Then, as I teach that Jesus Christ is our ultimate example and that God the Father has decreed moral standards, I'm relieved of being the rule maker. My parental confidence comes from a higher authority, and based on Jesus' example, I can set standards for our family to live by.

Finally, placing my children in God's hands lightens the burden of responsibility. What a relief to know that God loves my children more than I do, and that he's willing to work in their lives as I intercede for them. It's taken a while, but as my children grow older, I realize that prayer and conviction of the Holy Spirit accomplishes much more than another lecture from Mom or Dad.

Karen Morerod is a mother of five, a pastor's wife, and a freelance writer. She lives in Kansas City.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Christian Parenting Today.

Fall 2005, Vol. 18, No. 1, Page 26

STILL Sick!!

UGH.... Alex is STILL sick! Last night was the first night he didn't spike a fever so maybe just maybe we are on the road to recovery. Nothing worse than being stuck in a house with a very active 2 year old, who is beyond hyper, and on steroids only to make him more hyper, and did I mention stubborn?? It has not been easy. I haven't gotten a thing done and my house is a war zone. I can't even leave him alone for a minute. Yesterday, I went into the bathroom (God forbid), come back out and he is climbing out the window! (we live in an old house with crank windows no screens). He was following the cat out! We have lived her a year and he has NEVER attempted such madness. OH.... And let's not forget how he BIT my face yesterday.. HARD!!! I pray my child NEVER has to be on steroids again. Looks like he has the same aggressive behavior on it that I do. ..... Sigh ...... Poor kid. He still has a nasty junkie cough, running nose and just blah.... Day 4 of the antibiotic and steroid! Tomorrow is his last day of it and honestly... I don't see a major improvement except for the fever finally leaving (I hope).

As for the "Diet", my first 2 days I saw major improvement yesterday.. I TOTALLY blew it! I ate McD's and a COKE!! Ugh.... So back onto the wagon today! I could give lost of excuses why I blew it but basically it's because I am WEAK!!! LOL... At least I am honest right?? Keep praying for me to have strength and will power. God, knows I seriously need it.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

A thousand and one things....

My life is flying past me.. It feels like forever since I have written an actual post. I have been in a rut. I am not exactly sure when it started I think it has been creeping up on me for months and then I got extremely busy and life just started happening without me having control of the reins.

My marriage... Is... Not solid right now. We seemed to have lost our touch. It's so hard with no money and no family here to jump in and give us a needed break. Alex is very high maintenance, always has been. He is still not sleeping all night nor alone. This I think is our largest problem as we never have couple time. We never get to make each other feel important and special. Cuddling?? what's that? Kissing?? Huh.... you get the picture. Our new form of communication is yelling at each other, snapping, and misreading clues. I actually dread him coming home from work. It is horribly sadding to me. I know a lot of it may be my fault... I dunno. sigh... please keep us in your prayers!!!

It's funny.. today I had an imagine. Have you ever had your child start to take off and you grab them by the back of the shirt and pull them back in? Today God grabbed me by the back of my collar and yanked me back, so hard in fact I nearly fell over! I can't explain it all.. but I just know God is calling my name, drawning me back. I always thought Christians were perfect and wondered how they kept their connection so strong. Now I realize we are not perfect just forgiven. God made us to be sinners, to make mistakes. At times in the journey your connection will be strong and it's as if you are sitting on God's palm, other times... it's as if you are floating through space miles and miles away from God, so far his voice sounds like a whisper. Sadly this is where I have been. sigh....

NOW.. Alex is sick. Started last night at 9:30 with projectile vomit all over my bathroom. Yuck.. then a fever of 102. at 1am. Fever broke around 4 when I headed back to bed. Awoke with a serious rattle in his chest, wheezing, and a cough. We started the Duo-neb breathing treatments right away every 4 hours. Fever seemed like it was gone but he was not 100%, seemed just tired. At nap time fever went back up to 102 again, so gave him couch syrup and motrin. Fever was still up at 7:30 so gave tylenol. Bizzare though he started acting insane. I mean seriously hyper! We ended up putting him in a luke warm bath and that seemed to finally calm him down so he could go to sleep. His face was beat red as were his chest and shoulders. Weirdest thing I have ever seen. He was so hyper... scary! He is sleeping now so we shall see what our night does! Please keep him in your prayers.

I am starting a diet tomorrow... or should I say chooising a healthier eating pattern. I am following the Body For Life plan. Rick and I did it before we got married and saw huge results. We also have numerous friends who have been doing it and also doing great. (of course they already looked pretty good but whatever), now they look really good. I have gained a ton of weight and honestly am just embaressed with myself. I have no good excuses except excuses! Bad...

GOALS for this week Monday through Saturday:
1. No Caffeine Soda (no pepsi, no coke)
2. No Sweet Tea
3. No Taco Bell

I am setting small goals and moving from there.... If I do everything at once I may have a serious break down! LOL.....

Well that pretty much sums everything up here!! Miss all my regular readers.. and hope you are well!

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

What is your birthday mean?

SOME of this fits for me (isn't that the way)?? I Bolded hat actually sounds like me!

November
Has lots of extraordinary ideas. Difficult to
fathom. Thinkforward. Unique. brilliant. Sharp
thinking. Fine, strong clairvoyance. make good
doctors. Dynamic. Secretive. Inquisitive. Know
how to dig secrets.
Always thinking. Less
talkative. amiable. Brave. generous. Patient.
Stubborn. hardhearted. Determined. Never quit.
Hardly become angry unless provoked. Love to be
alone. Think differently. Sharp-minded.
Motivate self. Dont appreciate praises.
Highspirited. Well-built, tough. Deep love,
emotions
. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships.
Homely. Hardworking. High abilities.
Trustworthy. Honest. Keepsecrets. Cant control
emotions. Unpredictable.



What does your birth month reveal about you? (read memo)
brought to you by Quizilla

What is YOUR Dominant personality trait?

Understanding
Dominant Personality: Understanding

Good Traits: You gravitate towards people,
and are a shoulder to lean on. You give advice
at any given time.

Bad Traits: You aren't close with any one
person. You immerse yourself in other people's
problems and forget your own.

People see you as: Friendly, secretive, and
popular. People envy you, and may try and use
you as a tool

You're most like: Grace. You both have
positive relationships with people. Neither of
you have close friends, but unlike graceful
people, you try to help people out and aren't
as arrogant.

You need more: Solitude. You hardly get the
chance to breathe when you take on the world's
problems. You can't take other's
responsibilities or put them before your own.
Be selfish once in a while and discover who you
really are.


What's your dominant trait? (10 unique results)
brought to you by Quizilla

Pray..

Prayer chain for our Military...please don't break it


Please send this on after a short prayer.
Prayer for our soldiers...please don't break it

Prayer
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they
protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they
perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our
Lord and Savior. Amen."

Prayer Request: When you receive this, please! ! stop for a moment and say a
prayer for our troops around the world.

The world is not wrong as much as it is lost.

Friend or Foe?
by John Fischer

Bob is a regular devotional reader who writes me frequently. What makes him unique is that he is a Christian who is attending classes at a Buddhist temple. Now some Christians might find this impossible to do, but it really depends on your worldview.

A person with a worldview that believes that Christians are right and everyone else is wrong would not be able to understand how a person could do this, or why one would even want to. A person with a worldview that believes that all truth is embodied in Christ Jesus, but not exclusively held by Him, might see this differently. God has not locked up His truth inside the church where no one else can get it.

Theologians call it common grace – that part of truth and beauty that God shares with everyone, whatever their faith or lack of it. In reality, it’s the only way we can explain the world the way it is. Christians are not the only good people on the earth. Indeed there are many good people in the world who are not Christians, as well as Christians who are not very good.

Bob wrote recently: “One of my classmates went on a tirade when he first learned that I am a Christian. We are now friends. He is still a Buddhist and I am still a Christian, but he says gentler things about Christians now. I can't help saying ‘gentle things’ about Buddhists. It's something that many Christians need to learn. I guess our North American society often isn't very gentle.”

Now you can see a reason for this. Bob is finding among his Buddhist friends, Christian traits that are culturally lacking in our western society. And it also looks like Bob has been an influence on at least one of his Buddhist friends who looks at Christianity differently now because of him.

Am I suggesting that we all become Buddhists? Of course not. But I am suggesting we could be more open to truth outside of only what we can control. We might be able to share Christ with more people if we thought differently about this. One way to think about it would be this: The world is not wrong as much as it is lost.

It’s a mindset that colors how we treat people. People we think are wrong need to be set straight; people we think are lost need to be found and brought home. If you were not a Christian, whom would you rather have as a friend, someone out to set you straight, or someone out to find you and bring you home?

“Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Marti and son, Chandler. They also have two adult children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.

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Monday, October 03, 2005

Mothering Maxim

MOM-EMAIL (TM)

Mothering Maxim

The hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection and not a fountain, to show them that we love them, not when we feel like it, but when they do.
(Nan Fairbrother)

Mom Moment

Herding Cats

By Jill Love, Area Coordinator

Do you remember that commercial from the 2000 Super Bowl - that silly one with the image of cowboys with their ropes and horses trying to herd cats as if they were cows? I do - I actually think of it often.

This same image comes to my mind when I am trying to get my 5-year-old and 2-year-old boys to cooperate in doing something that is on my agenda. Sometimes it's those simple little tasks that are the most difficult as a mom. Many times I realize that what I think is most important to be doing right now conflicts with what my children think is important. MOPS refers to these moments as "Mommy Bumps."

When I am able to take a minute and put these "Mommy Bumps" into perspective, I realize that just maybe my goals of cleaning, grocery shopping, and laundry aren't the most important things to accomplish at this very moment. Although I do get those things done eventually, sometimes it's easier to do the tasks after taking time out for my children: taking three minutes to read Barney one more time, stopping to comment on a new piece of artwork, or even playing a quick game of hide-n-seek. We shouldn't be at the beck and call of our children all the time. But sometimes when I put my children's agendas first and satisfy their needs I am able to get my work done with much less frustration. Better yet, we are all much happier.

Prayer From a Mother's Heart

Dear God, help my child to desire you and your ways above the ways of others.

Thank you to Standard Publishing for sponsoring this MOM-E-Mail. You can introduce your family to a new tradition this fall! The process of transforming a lowly pumpkin into a reminder of God's forgiveness is highlighted in The Pumpkin Gospel, just released by MOPS advisory board member, Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Expose the book pages to light, then turn off the lights to read. Your preschooler will delight in the glow-in-the-dark ink - and you'll begin a new family tradition! Click here to get your copy today!


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