Freedom --

All summer our Church has been going through the book of Romans --  It's deep and we leave each Sunday challenged to think it through and re-examine.  

After a thorough study of the doom loop in Romans 7 and the battle of spirit and flesh in the earlier chapters -- I admit I was eager to get to the passage in Romans 8:1 - -"there is NO Condemnation for those in Christ -- whew! 

Diving deep into Romans 8 in worship today -- I couldn't help but be moved by the songs - before the message we sang, 

So Will I --  if the stars were made to worship -- so will I!!! -- 

What was discovered just now -- Our Creator God put in place way back there on the 4th day of creation.

With this week's new telescope discovery of galaxies and stars just now seen -- it reminded me that 

The moon and the stars govern the night and HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.  PSA. 137

"God determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name"  Psa. 147

The sermon from Romans 8 reminded us that in Jesus -- we are free and have no doubt of what lies ahead for us. It concluded with the song "The Goodness of God"

Nobody can belt it out like CeCe Winans - I tried to link it and couldn't-- however the words relay what is in my heart -- the message of how very faithful my God has been in my life and it is the heart song of what God has done for me.  I got weepy as we sang!!!!

The Goodness of God

I love You, Lord

For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God (yeah)

chorus

'Cause Your goodness is running after
It's running after me
Your goodness is running after
It's running after me
With my life laid down
I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after
It's running after me (oh-oh)

. . . . singin' it twice

chorus

It once again reminded me how very gracious our God has been to me.

Gracing me with the gift of my husband, giving us two beautiful children, Bethany and Marshall after we fought the infertility battle, bringing in two children-in-love as the mates to our kids - Mat and Katie

and further gifting us with 6 wonderful grands, Campbell, Sydney, Jack, Clara, Charlie and Calvin

He has guided and taught us as we worked in churches at home and on mission trips.  .  . showing us His goodness in the people He gave us to serve.  

Modeling for us as Master Teacher as He put us each in various classrooms and workshops we held.

He has lovingly cared for us through illnesses and bound up our broken hearts during major losses.

My sister friend, Marinelle stitched my life verse for me from Psalm 16 for my retirement:

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places -- surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom

 

Today, Mom, marks your 19th Heavenly Birthday.  103 years old by earth counting if you were still with us.

You used to talk about the home God had prepared for you in Heaven.

In your last days when Hospice was predicting your homegoing -- you would say,

"It's all in God's timing -- when He's ready it will happen."

I miss you terribly Mom -- but this one thing-- I am so glad that you can't see all that is happening in our world today. You were always about helping kids in need at Moro school.  In your last days, you even supported children in Bethany's classes that needed clothes.

I thought a lot during this month of July about the classes you would have for young girls teaching them how to teach Bible Classes.  I taught sewing camp here at home and thought about how much you taught me about sewing and how you would have loved that project.

This past week I got to sew Clara a little dress (from 63 years of sewing I was able to create it without a pattern).  

Charlie is eager to use the sewing machine.

You were the master teacher with creating individual learning pads for each of your 2-3 yr olds and 4-5 yr olds in Sunday School.  You taught for 30+ years and created one of the first Mother's Day outs in the late 60's and early 70's.  

We're a long line of teachers in our family you - me - Bethany.  I wonder which of the Grands will choose to be an educator.

Each and every day - something that you taught me comes to mind - whether it is - stretching the budget - a sewing tip or a faith lesson. 

You taught the boys how to build -- your curiosity was always about learning to create.  "We can make it for less" was always your motto.

Thanks Mom for making us lifelong learners.

The World As I See It Today July 13

THIS IS WHERE I SPEAK MY THOUGHTS AND MY VIEW OF THE WORLD AS I SEE IT.  I DON'T TWEET -- I DON'T POST MY POLITICAL VIEWS ON FB -- THIS IS MY SPACE AND HERE GOES!

I apologize if this is offensive to you . . . it's just where I am at this stage of my life and our world.

 I read this post on social media this morning --

"If you watch HGTV too long you'll become dissatisfied with your home -

"If you are on social media too long you'll become dissatisfied with your life -

"If you watch the news too long you'll become dissatisfed with your world."

I guess that is where I am right now.

Watching the daily news, I see --

Sex is misused and abused.

God intended it for a blessing -- to the wife and her husband to enhance their relationship-- and for the procreation of children.

People have used it to exploit, hurt, and destroy.  Child predators are being exposed world-wide.

Our crazy mixed-up world tells children --

They aren't made in the image of God male and female.

They can change and destroy their bodies.

The news reports:

Teachers giving children as young as preschoolers information far beyond their need to know about sex -

They tell them their skin color makes a difference and can mean that they are bad.

Children have no voice -- all the sexual grooming that can happen in their relationships with others and online -- this information robs them of their innocense.

Children are the ones who are hurt when parents are dazed out on drugs.

Young girls are being raped as they come to America across the Southern border.

It's always the children that are hurt - the voiceless victims.

"They" say -- giving up a child for adoption is too traumatic -- what about killing that baby in the womb???

My body -- my choice is blazened on every poster.  What about the choice that comes early on -- 

whether or not to engage in sex??  Is murder the only form of birth control?

I am FOR taking care of the mother's health.  I understand the case of rape and incest. . . that care needs to happen for these victims. . . what I am talking about is the demand for it.

I've lived 72 years and seen a LOT-

The sexual revolution that hit our country in the late 60's and early 70's -- "Free Love"they called it - flung open the door for the onslaught of sex crimes we have today.  That FREE LOVE wasn't FREE and has brought so much pain and heartache.

All of this and if you are speaking out against any of it you are cancelled - called EXTREME - MYSOGINISTIC - FANATICAL.

God's word reminds us"

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Isa. 5:30

Please LORD -- heal our land.

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chron 7:14

But in my reading today -- I am reminded that we are called to LOVE -- 

Love those that are different from us - love those who even cause harm

Love those with strongly differing opinions 

Jesus never labeled -- he saw the person and loved them through whatever was blocking their way to Him.