God is awesome the way he lightly reminds us that He is in control. Sometimes in my life though he has to scream His reminders quite loudly! The past few days there have been to events in the world (one in the public arena, and the other in my personal world) to remind me of this truth.
Monday a 13 year old boy "Ben" was abducted after getting off the school bus here in Missouri. A massive search effort was started, but the only thing they had to go on was a description of a truck someone had seen speed away from the area. Yesterday rhwy broke into Oprah saying there had been a break in the case. Not only had they found Ben, but with him in the same apartment was Shawn Hornbeck who had been missing since 2002 at the age of 11!!
I don't know either of these families personally but I am confident that there were many prayers were said on behalf of both boys. At times these were prayers of desparation, anger, and just pleading for answers. For whatever reason January 12, 2007 was when this piece of God's plan for the people touched by the stories (that reached millions) came to a miraculous close.
Second example: In a recent post I started by asking if God was listening. My life has been turned upside and sideways for the past 6 months because I 've been to lots of doctors with intermittn symptoms and no one could tell me anything that was wrong other that "I was probably stressed" I have gone through a myriad of emotions and types of prayers myself. I kept telling myself this is all part of God's plan for you, You'll look back and see how it fits.
This past Thursday I went to yet another doctor and within 10 minutes I had a diagnosis...not the best one,but yet something I could focus on. Ironically, I find more peace in knowing what I am facing then I am fearful of possible outcomes. I still don't understand the time table in either of the above situations for waiting. Maybe it is to teach us that the only way we can stand up under our burdens and persecutions is with the strength and love of Jesus Christ in our lives! Great is His Faithfulness
There will be more hard times ahead in life but God is in my heart and he has placed many "angels" in my life to undergird me when I am weak, and he offers the same for everyone who comes to Him!
I often include lyrics that reflect my feelings after I post about a topic. today you might expect a praise song and although those are always appropriate, I feel like being a realist today and that leads me to YES a country song it talks about the reality of life's not always beautiful, but no matter what "life is a beautiful ride"
No matter what God's plan has in store for me during my lifetime He never promised it would be easy but it has a already been a beautiful ride!
Life Ain't Always Beautiful- Gary Allan
Life aint always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard Life can knock you down, it can break your heart Life aint always beautiful You think you're on your wayAnd it's just a dead end road at the end of the day
But the struggles make you strongerAnd the changes make you wise And happiness has its own way of takin it's sweet time
CHORUS No, life aint always beautifulTears will fall sometimes Life aint always beautiful But it's a beautiful ride Life aint always beautiful Some days I miss your smile I get tired of walkin all these lonely miles And I wish for just one minute I could see your pretty face Guess I can dream, but life don’t work that way
But the struggles make me strongerAnd the changes make me wise And happiness has its own way of takin it's sweet time No, life aint always beautifulBut i know i'll be fine Hey, life aint always beautiful But it's a beautiful ride What a beautiful ride
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
A new plan in Iraq
So I listened to the President's speech tonight and I was ok with what I heard . I hope people truly listened to the overall themes in the speech.
I have been very disheartened by the democrats who have been threatening to withold the funding of the war to make a point that they do not agree with the troop increase.
First I thought it was notable that President Bush said "Mistakes, have been made and the responsibility for those falls on me."
I must admit I was slightly unsure about the troop increase if progress toward turning over security to the Iraqi people was not made more rapidly. I did not want to see the war continue in a continual cat and mouse chase game with insurgents because as the president said tonight as soon as we leave an area the insurgents move back in.
The president says victory will look different. This time I believe he was more real about the difficulty and hardships our forces will still face, and I was glad to see the loss of life was not glossed over.
Oir approach will be focused on success equaling security for Iraq. Tothat end the 20,000 extra troops will be focused ontraining and embedding themselves to assist Iraqis NOT to be in charge.
This approach also has our forces focusing on the most intense areas in the country namely Baghdad and Andar Province.
i am also glad that Bush made it clear to Prime Minister Maliki that this commitment it is not opon ended especially if they do not start taking over their own country.
I am still concerned about two things even though I was on board with direction of the new plan. I know the Iraqi people voted for a democractic society and elections, but we must remember that there are major cultural differences in the middle eastern region and thus their percepton of liberty may never look exactly correct to us.
I am also concerned because President Bush talks about wanting to stabilize the region to make us safer but then he says he is sending a carrier to intercept any shipments and/or interference from Syria and Iran. Although I know thesr two countries are antagonists to the progression of security in the region, but this unnerves me. Could this be a pre-cursor to another front?? We'll have to see
Gid Bless America and Watch over our troops
Leaving now is not an option, if we did there would be a threat left for the entire world not just the United States
I have been very disheartened by the democrats who have been threatening to withold the funding of the war to make a point that they do not agree with the troop increase.
First I thought it was notable that President Bush said "Mistakes, have been made and the responsibility for those falls on me."
I must admit I was slightly unsure about the troop increase if progress toward turning over security to the Iraqi people was not made more rapidly. I did not want to see the war continue in a continual cat and mouse chase game with insurgents because as the president said tonight as soon as we leave an area the insurgents move back in.
The president says victory will look different. This time I believe he was more real about the difficulty and hardships our forces will still face, and I was glad to see the loss of life was not glossed over.
Oir approach will be focused on success equaling security for Iraq. Tothat end the 20,000 extra troops will be focused ontraining and embedding themselves to assist Iraqis NOT to be in charge.
This approach also has our forces focusing on the most intense areas in the country namely Baghdad and Andar Province.
i am also glad that Bush made it clear to Prime Minister Maliki that this commitment it is not opon ended especially if they do not start taking over their own country.
I am still concerned about two things even though I was on board with direction of the new plan. I know the Iraqi people voted for a democractic society and elections, but we must remember that there are major cultural differences in the middle eastern region and thus their percepton of liberty may never look exactly correct to us.
I am also concerned because President Bush talks about wanting to stabilize the region to make us safer but then he says he is sending a carrier to intercept any shipments and/or interference from Syria and Iran. Although I know thesr two countries are antagonists to the progression of security in the region, but this unnerves me. Could this be a pre-cursor to another front?? We'll have to see
Gid Bless America and Watch over our troops
Leaving now is not an option, if we did there would be a threat left for the entire world not just the United States
Sunday, January 07, 2007
I know God has the plan...
God Are you LISTENING?? I have been asking this question a lot as of late, part of me feels guilty because deep down I know He has a plan for me and I just have to be patient. I have a strong faith...I really do! BUT a lot has been going on in my life. I have been willing to be flexible and go different directions as life presented opportunities. Unfortunately, many times just to walk to another stalemate.
I started my Masters a year ago, I enjoyed it tremendously but moving out and doing my on again off again job and school led to MAJOR stress and interesting symptoms so I have decided to take some time off and return to looking for a more reliable employment situation with OH MY GOODNESS perhaps benefits!!
I don't think I expect too much from life. I want to work for a living I am doer even if I was a millionaire I would still want a position where I had to get up and go assist people everyday it is just part of who I am.
People always say you have to be happy with who you are before you can be happy with someone else. I used to believe that, it made sense. However now that I think about fundamentally in my core I am happy with who I am. What I am not hsppy about is my current circumstances/tests/trials or whatever you want to call them. This is why I often communicate with my closest Christian friends during these times because although they cannot make my struggles disappear they can align with me as allies in prayer and that lifts my spirit greatly.
It is hard to quietly wait on God's Will to be fulfilled in your life, so many times I am pleading and screaming for the immediate pain to be taken, God looks down wraps His loving arms around me and says " I am here my child,my plan for you is best. Remain faithful and your reward shall be great"
God Please help me to focus on you when I just want to fall apart.
My struggles are nothing compared to Mary's when she was told she was bringing Jesus into this world yet the lyrics to this song give me peace in my life at the present... Amen
Point Of Grace Winter Wonderland
Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)
I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,And i wonder what i've done.Holy father you have come,And chosen me now to carry your son.I am waiting in a silent prayer.I am frightened by the load i bear.In a world as cold as stone,Must i walk this path alone?Be with me now.Be with me now.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven.Do you wonder as you watch my face,If a wiser one should have had my place,But i offer all i amFor the mercy of your plan.Help me be strong.Help me be.Help me.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven.
I started my Masters a year ago, I enjoyed it tremendously but moving out and doing my on again off again job and school led to MAJOR stress and interesting symptoms so I have decided to take some time off and return to looking for a more reliable employment situation with OH MY GOODNESS perhaps benefits!!
I don't think I expect too much from life. I want to work for a living I am doer even if I was a millionaire I would still want a position where I had to get up and go assist people everyday it is just part of who I am.
People always say you have to be happy with who you are before you can be happy with someone else. I used to believe that, it made sense. However now that I think about fundamentally in my core I am happy with who I am. What I am not hsppy about is my current circumstances/tests/trials or whatever you want to call them. This is why I often communicate with my closest Christian friends during these times because although they cannot make my struggles disappear they can align with me as allies in prayer and that lifts my spirit greatly.
It is hard to quietly wait on God's Will to be fulfilled in your life, so many times I am pleading and screaming for the immediate pain to be taken, God looks down wraps His loving arms around me and says " I am here my child,my plan for you is best. Remain faithful and your reward shall be great"
God Please help me to focus on you when I just want to fall apart.
My struggles are nothing compared to Mary's when she was told she was bringing Jesus into this world yet the lyrics to this song give me peace in my life at the present... Amen
Point Of Grace Winter Wonderland
Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)
I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,And i wonder what i've done.Holy father you have come,And chosen me now to carry your son.I am waiting in a silent prayer.I am frightened by the load i bear.In a world as cold as stone,Must i walk this path alone?Be with me now.Be with me now.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven.Do you wonder as you watch my face,If a wiser one should have had my place,But i offer all i amFor the mercy of your plan.Help me be strong.Help me be.Help me.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven,Hold me together,Be forever near me,Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven,Lighten my darkness,Pour over me your holiness,For you are holy.Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven.Breath of heaven.