Every woman has a right to her own body when her mother is pregnant with her !
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!
Since Christianity and Jesus’ relationship to His Church is compared to a husband/wife relationship, I thought I’d try an allegory with the song and the Christian life.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
— If we live as authentic Jesus followers, we will not be comfortable in this world.
— “In the world you will have tribulation . . .”
But the fire is so delightful
— “. . . be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
— “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
And since we’ve no place to go
— “Who do I have in heaven but You; and there is no one I desire on earth beside You.”
— “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
– – –
Man, it doesn’t show signs of stopping
— “Relent, O Lord, how long . . .?”
— “My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me.”
And I’ve brought me some corn for popping
— “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
— “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
The lights are turned way down low
— “When evening had come, Jesus sat down with the twelve.”
— “When evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
— “Let the lower lights be burning,
Send its beams across the waves.
Some poor wandering seaman
You my rescue, you may save.”
Let it snow, let it snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
– – – – –
When we finally kiss goodnight
— “Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more.”
— “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”
How I’ll hate going out in the storm
— “I send you as sheep among wolves; be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
— “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus.”
But if you really hold me tight
— “I am with you always.”
— “Those whom You gave me, I have kept, and none of them is lost.”
— The Holy Spirit is the warmest Comforter ever, forever.
All the way home I’ll be warm
— The Holy Spirit is the warmest Comforter ever, forever.
— The river Jordan only chills the body but not the soul.
— Home, Home, Home at last, forever.
– – – – –
And the fire is slowly dying
— “The love of many will grow cold.”
— “Stir up the gift of God which is in you.”
And, my dear, we’re still goodbyeing
— “Because I said, ‘I Am going away’, sorrow has filled your heart.”
— “I go to the Father, and you no longer see Me.”
But as long as you love me so
— “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
— “Lo, I Am with you always.”
Let it snow, let it snow, and snow
— “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”
“MURDER FOR PAY”—PAY FOR MURDER
In the 340 years of slavery in America, an average of 80 blacks per day became slaves.
This country paid dearly for that, in the Civil War.
As many as 800,000 Americans died.
Today in America an average of 800 blacks per day are murdered.
This country is about to pay dearly for that, in the coming civil conflict between life and death, good and evil, right and left, Christ-followers and Christ-haters.
– – –
Rephrasing Abraham Lincoln’s speech from 1858, for today, after Roe was struck down:
“‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.‘
I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half death and half life.”
– – –
Read “HALF SLAVE, HALF FREE” – – – HALF DEATH, HALF LIFE ? on this website, posted the day after Roe was overturned.
WHEN REALITY DOESN’T MAKE SENSE
Some thoughts from and inspired by
Peter Rosenberger – “Hope For The Family Caregiver” on afr.net
He knows whereof he speaks—caregiver for his wife for decades.
– – –
“Confusing the American dream with the Christian life.”
Peter says when his wife Gracie enters a room, she immediately creates a theological conversation, without even saying a word.
She doesn’t have to offer a profound explanation for the will of God.
“Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood.
All I had to offer Him
Was loneliness and strife,
But He made something beautiful
Of my life.”
How to trust Him.
Can I trust Him.
How do I know I can trust Him . . .
“His scars make it possible to trust Him with my scars.”
GET IT RIGHT
American Family Radio
afr.net
American Family News
afn.net
“I GET UP AND TRY EVERY DAY, NOT . . .”
“I get up and try every day, not to be a Christian, but to live for Christ.”
—–Taya Kyle, widow of American sniper, Chris Kyle
REVIEWS ON RETIREMENT
PERSPECTIVES
Ask yourself,
“What am I currently sacrificing, doing without, to put money away for myself, for someday ?”
Imagine* spending a day with a Christian going through intense persecution—threatened, arrested, church burned, house burned, spouse killed, hiding, hungry, children hungry—and you could help.
– – –
After spending the day with a persecuted fellow family member, you might consider this,
“Jesus, tell me if You want me to help them, now—and sacrifice something for myself.”
“Whatever you do for the least of these, my brothers, you do it for Me.”—–Jesus
“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”—–His Book
How do we do that ?
+ Pray for them—their plea is to not be forgotten.
+ Give to meet their needs, their family’s needs, now.
– – –
+ + Their real needs, part of my real family, real suffering, NOW !
+ + My wishes, my possible needs, my comfort, ‘SOMEDAY’ ?
– – –
*To help you imagine, read the book:
WHEN FAITH IS FORBIDDEN
40 Days on the Frontlines With Persecuted Christians
from Voice of the Martyrs
“HE WHO KILLS YOU . . .”
Jesus said to His followers (disciples, us ?), “You will be hated by all because of Me.”
Then Jesus said, “HE WHO KILLS YOU WILL THINK HE IS DOING GOD SERVICE.”
In light of Jesus’ words, what would be His strongest approval of His followers, and how would He show it ?
Martrydom is God’s ultimate mark of approval/commendation for a Christian.
For the first Christian martyr, Stephen, Jesus gave a standing ovation in heaven.
When Jesus went back to heaven, He sat down at His Father’s right hand, but when Stephen was stoned, he “saw Jesus standing . . .”
I think He does that for every martyr !
“Do not be afraid—just believe.”
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
I heard a dear family friend, Charlie Hohle, say that verse in Daddy’s house after he was martyred.
BARTERING – – – FOR FAULTS ?
Bartering in Relationships
Once you read this, you may notice how often bartering between people in close relationships is practiced.
Very simply, when one has a complaint or objection to something in another person, the easiest, habitual, default* reaction is to say, “You do that too, and this too.”
Such bartering is often so automatic that it becomes subconscious, and one is unaware of practicing it.
It becomes a way of life between the two people.
+Does it work ?
Yes—If the other person joins and participates, the bartering goes on and on (and on and on), like a seller and a buyer bickering over trading.
+Does it do any good ?
No—Bickering indeed, without resolving anything, as long as both persons maintain their fault-finding arsenal of defense, ready to fire back upon any occasion of accusation.
+Does it have a solution ?
Yes—At a time far-removed from bartering with faults, recognize what happens and how it is not good, and commit to stop.
When complaints, objections, faults must be addressed, agree that each concern will be addressed on its own, alone.
– – –
Bartering for Heaven
That is: Bartering with God
Many practice this continuously without realizing it, until a close brush with death or a conversation with another person raises the question, “Am I ready to face God ? And, how?”
Most people answer with a list of their good qualities and good deeds, not realizing they are presenting what they have, to barter with God.
+Does it work ?
No—Not with God.
+Does it do any good ?
No—Nothing we have to offer is worth anything in negotiating with God, for heaven.
+Does it have a solution ?
Yes—First, acknowledge and accept God’s terms in everything.
Then, set aside everything you think you have to offer to impress God.
Then, give God what you do have—your sin, and all that goes with it.
Then, accept that Jesus died to pay for your sin, and accept His forgiveness.
If you want to call it bartering, okay—it’s one-sided bartering, all God’s part.
– – –
– – –
*default
automatic response to ‘de – fault’—undo or negate fault in yourself, by deflecting the fault onto someone else
FOR ME – – – FOR TODAY
“My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.”