SelahV Today by hariette petersen

On A Scale Of 1 to 10, The PAIN Is...

...at least 15.  I can't imagine what number I'd assign my pain without the aid of hydrocodone and aspirin.  If it's this bad with the medication, it's a good chance I would not be writing to you.  As it is, I am keeping my eyes closed as I type and check for typos now and then.  How'd it happen? It's freaky.

At a few minutes before noon, I simply reached across the dining-room table for a piece of paper. Pain ripped through my lower back. I couldn't breathe.  Bright light flashed in front of my eyes then darkness seemed to blind my mind.  Nausea grabbed me by the throat; I almost passed out. I stood perfectly still.  Didn't move a muscle.  I held my breath and waited for the searing, wrenching pain to ease.  It didn't.

At present, I need hubby's assistance to walk; he's my crutch. 

I take tiny steps.  Actually it's more like a shuffle. It's excruciating just to get up and stand still.  Suffice it to say, we canceled plans to go junking in Duncan.  All afternoon, I laid back in my recliner trying not to move anything but my fingers.  The simple intake of breath causes pressure pain to hit my back.

This evening I'm praying I don't sneeze--still a bit queazy.  Don't want to wiggle my toes, scratch my leg, or flex a muscle. Most any movement causes greater pain. 

Still, I am compelled to praise the Lord as I consider how good I have it--how much better off I am than all those poor tornado victims in Alabama and Mississippi. I think about the folks in Japan and am grateful.  So grateful.  Though my pain is worse than any I've felt in a long time, it's still less than what others suffer each day.  It's far less than my brother-in-law is enduring with his mouth and throat cancer.  He's on morphine.  I think of the heartache and misery our military face because of lost arms, eyes, legs and more in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Blessed, I am.  Blessed I'll be.  Ever mindful ot the sufficient grace of God that meets the weakness of my temporary trial.  Yes, temporary.  Should the good and merciful LORD decide to leave me in this state for years, it is still but a single intake of breath in comparison to the eternal bliss and comfort I shall have in heaven one day.  So,

"This suffering is all part of the work God has given you. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

Odd, when I consider "suffering is all part of the work God has given" me.  I never really thought about suffering as work.  Yet, here it is.  And all I need do to follow Jesus is endure it.  It's easy to recall the suffering of Jesus so close to Easter--so much emphasis has been on His crucifixtion and resurrection.  Not once did Jesus complain in His suffering.  No pity parties.  No grumbling.  Not even an irritable spirit.  Yes, now....now, I can discern how suffering is part of the work that God gives.

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."Along with Paul, I stake my hope on resurrection, a time when Christ will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:21

Suffering is not about me.  It's about glorifying God--working through it, submitting to it as Christ Jesus did during His scourging, mockery, and tortuous death.

Need I even pray about my pain?  The suffering?  In light of "Your Father knows what you need before you ask."?  Matthew 6:8

Of course I pray.  I pray that I do not enter into the temptation to grumble, complain and whine.  I praise God for the opportunity to do the work He has given me to do.  Though I cannot stand and cook dinner, fold laundry, or even bend to brush my teeth, I can accept the "work God" gives me. I think the whole purpose for this suffering is so I'd search for scriptures to convey to you, my friends, that God is supplying.  So, this is fine...this is good. I am a woose for the most part, but I can do this.  Yes, I can.

"I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength!"  Philippians 4:13

I know I'm not alone.  I know my Redeemer did more than save my soul.  He left me with the Holy Spirit.  He gifted me with His strength and He assures me with:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 2:9)

What a mighty, prepared, think-ahead God we have!  What a peace is mine!  Amazing, don't you think?  selahV 

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

Whenever my granddaughters get in one of their sibling spats, I pull out this little book and read it.  It is simply precious.   

A mere 20 pages in this board-book gently coaxes the reader into a contest of love between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare.  As the little hare tries his best to express his love to the big hare, the big hare's love proves far greater an expression than Little Nutbrown Hare can meet or even conceive possible. 

The content easily serves as a conversation starter between parent and child on the dimensions of love.  The love described between the covers can even promote a comparable discussion on God's surpassing love to each of His children.  That's what happened between my granddaughters and myself. 

The illustrations are simple and visually show the height and depth of immeasurable love.  In one illustration Big Nutbrown Hare extends his arms outward to express how much he loves Little Nutbrown Hare.   

Having read this to my 5 year-old and 9-year-old granddaughters, I might personally add that they love hearing it as their bedtime story.  I rarely finish it before they are in slumberland dreaming of the love they have for me and I for them.

I highly recommend it.  If your local bookstore doesn't have it you can order one by clicking on the publisher's link below.  It's well worth the money.  SelahV 

[ GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.  Written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.   Printed first in 1994 and later in 1996 in Board Book Edition.  Publisher is Candlewick">http://candlewick.com/">Candlewick Press.  It sells for $6.99 U.S. and $9.99 in Canada.]

"...the word of the LORD came to me, saying..."

"...you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house." Ezekiel 12:2

No one wants to think of themselves living in the midst of a rebellious house.

Imagine if you will, waking one morning to find that there was no Bible...no laws...no rules...no morality at all.  Each person is their own authority and do as they please.  Sin is not sin--it is preference.  Everything is optional--no standards--nothing mandatory.  There is no God.  To each his own. Can you imagine a state where there is no respect for any authority? where boundaries are non-existence, indulgence is the norm?  Selfishness the new generosity?  Decadence is embraced?  Perversion tolerated?  Murder ignored?

I can't.  I simply cannot fathom a day where sin runs so rampant we cannot determine right from wrong, bad from good.  Though there are those who'd have me believe living in holy matrimony with Christ gives me liberty to dwell in the rebellious house, I can't see the adulterous hypocrisy of that action. 

I sit here now, thinking how blessed I am that Christ provides a way out of such quandry.  His death paid the price for all my heart's rebellion.  As a born again Christian, I walk in the newness of life He imparts.  I am guided by His Spirit.  His Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.

   1) Blessed is the man
       Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
       Nor stands in the path of sinners, 
       Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
    2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       And in His law he meditates day and night.
    3) He shall be like a tree
       Planted by the rivers of water, 
       That brings forth its fruit in its season, 
       Whose leaf also shall not wither; 
       And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

Oh, that the lost had "eyes to see"...and "ears to hear"--before it is too late to get oil for their lamps.  The Bridegroom cometh.  We do not know the hour.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

Jesus is truly the Answer for the world today.  "pack up your bags and leave the rebellious house"...."open the door"....He "will come in"...."and lo, He is with you, even to the end of the age."   selahV

Have you read URGENT yet?  It's urgent that you do.

A COUPLE OF THINGS...

OR MORE.

A decade ago, I rode around all day with a television news reporter to do a news-story on her and how the whole news-story system worked.  She said her professors told her that news reporting all comes down to a 30-second soundbite--if that.  "Not even the president is worth more than 60 seconds".  (Or was it 15?) She filmed several things that day, spent hours filming and talking to folks.  Then came back to the station and cut hours of tape down to two 3-minute reports.  Crazy.

Sometimes blogging is like that.  You spend hours writing something and someone else reads what you write, then starts snipping, clipping, and introducing personal clarification to what you just said until it sounds more like something they would write than you would.

Perhaps it's just me.  But do you have times when you just don't want to bother explaining anymore?  You've written something as clearly as you know how...double-checked your nouns, verbs, and adjectives--removed part of them so as not to mislead anyone into thinking you are speaking of them directly in a perjorative sense.  Then someone slips in and picks a pinch out of what you write or say and slaps on a little Dijon Mustard to spice it up?

Suddenly, the rather bland innocuous statement you make (which is kinda like an after-dinner mint), becomes someone else's gourmet entre`?  Soon folks are feasting on leftovers of another's making?  It happens.  It happens a lot in journalism, in news reporting, in editorial analysis, and editing processes. It seems more pronounced in blogging because even though your words are right before your eyes, someone can turn it around backwards and you're doing all kinds of contortions to try and get your sentence structure straightened out.  I've watched this happen to a few people recently.

Should this happen to you when you say something, dear friends, and it is taken out of context, spliced into another's opinion, and becomes such an unrecognizable distortion of your original thinking that even you question what you say, take a few deep cleansing breaths.

Then re-read what you said.  Re-read why you said it.  Then re-read how the person re-wrote what you said.  Then sit a while and try to figure out what you really said and how far off the other person is with their interpretation of what you said.  Then write a response.

If all of the above fails to make it any clearer, then simply give up.  Let it go.  Move on.  Write a squirrely anecdote like this:

Four-year-old Kinsey snuggled into my side as we sat in her daddy's overstuffed recliner.  "I like playing fun-fu fightin' with daddy," she mused aloud.

"You do?  What's fun-fu-fightin'?"

"It's what daddy does with us.  He says we fun-fu instead of kung-fu because kung-fu is all about hurting each other when you fight.  But fun-fu is all about having fun when you play with each other."

Sure made sense to me. Agreeing is much better than disagreeing.  Playing much better than fighting.  Take comfort in the fact that to everything there is a season.  Yep, this too shall pass. selahV

It's Worth Repeating

"Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus first."

"God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us." [Oswald Chambers, My Umost For His Highest, October 30th]

The "object of our faith" is Jesus.

Faith in Christ rewards us with the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.  We learn as we grow.  Grow in Christ, grow in relationship with Him.  Grow in knowledge of His Words, His example.  Grow in faith, endurance, patience, obedience, and love.  Love is paramount in the life of Believers.  They will "know" we are Christians by the "love" we show one another in Christ.  "Love your neighbor as yourself....Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength."

People do not come to Christ as we lift up our knowledge of Him--how much we know about Him, or how succinctly we can explain each passage of the doctrinal issues in the Bible.  They come to Christ when we lift Him up...when we show our love for the Savior by the love we have for one another.

"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."  1 Corinthians 13:8

We do not have the perfect knowledge as long as we live on this earth.  We only know "in part".  The mysteries of God will be revealed to us when we join our Savior in Heaven.  The knowledge we have here on earth is to be used to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we use what we know wisely, without condemnation, without arrogance, without frustration, without fear.  May what we know keep us surrendered to the Spirit of God, focused on Jesus, humble in all our ways and conversations.  selahV

[FOR MORE devotional thoughts you might like to go HERE]

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA TORNADO FOOTAGE

In the aftermath of horrendous tornado that just hit Tuscaloosa, volunteers walk carefully through piles of rubble to carry out a child on a door.  Unbelieveable.  Pray for these people.  And all those in the last few days who've seen the destruction of nature.  Pray for Georgians as this system churns towards them.

I Don't Believe Obama

waited this long to insist upon his birth certificate be made available.  Not only has he been the focus of "birthers", he's been the butt of thousands of jokes, innuendo and suspicion for over two and a half years.

I was reading several comments on the news media announcements and low and behold you would never believe what I read.  Now the liberals are saying the "birthers" will never let this rest because they will say the newest released certificate is counterfeit.  You know...like other documents are counterfeited.  Like other signatures are forged....like, well....like other government documents...like passports, Social Security cards, and driver's licenses, and currency.  So, do you think this is over?

Before you answer....

Take a peek at the following documents which just came to my attention via email.

 

   to ENLARGE for greater viewing, just click on the photo.

This my friends, tells me that we can trust the speculations to continue.  ANND...as all of us know, that is what TRUE journalists report anyway.  Speculation, innuendo, opinion, angles, slants, political persuasions, and consipiracy theories, wiki leaks, with a few facts sprinkled in between, and interviews with someone who has similar views, to reinforce all of the above.  Such fun is life.

Now...who moved the stone?  Who took time to leave the grave clothes neatly folded as if the person within simply evaporated through them?  Who stole Jesus' body?  Why didn't they bring him out to dispute those wild accounts of lying disciples that they'd seen Him alive again after the crucifixtion?  If those 500 plus new believers didn't really see Jesus, and all those witnesses didn't see Him ascend into heaven, why didn't the ones who stole his body prove it and parade His body for all to see.

Hmmmn, can I get a witness to the living Jesus in your life today?  What exactly has He done to make you KNOW He is real?  That He is no counterfeit?  That He passes the "smell" test of decayed reasoning and logic?  Anyone?  I need facts.  I need interviews.  Someone help me...I wanna be a journalist.

Awh....never mind...I just wanna tell the old, old story and let you believe what you decide to believe.  O'Reilly or Jesus.  Heaven or hell--it's your choice.  selahV

What's A Christian To Share?

It's getting confusing, folks.  Last night (April 25, 2011), I flipped through the channels on my remote and caught Bill O'Reilly interviewing some preacher with a Phd.  I can't recall his name.  But, the guy was saying there is no hell.  He admitted that he believed in heaven, but not hell.  Reward but no consequence.  O'Reilly was a bit tiffed that according to that preacher, there'd be no place to put the likes of Hitler and other mass murderers and all kinds of evil people when they died.  The preacher pointed out that if hell existed then it would make God out to be some kind of a monster and we'd have to put folks like Ganhdi there too because he didn't believe in Jesus.  Hmmmn...so we shouldn't tell people there is a hell, that no man is righteous, that we all come short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death because-- if we do, then they'll think God is a monster.  Sigh.

Oh, and I was reading a young upcoming respected spokesman for "faith and culture" says his generation doesn't think we should bother with little things like "traditional marriage" like God instituted in the Garden of Eden.  We don't need to be pointing out that homosexuality is a sin...it's simply not necessary....and I suppose, neither is marriage between a man and woman, or co-habitating without marriage.  Just because we old fogey traditionalists interpret the scripture that way, doesn't make it so in today's culture with today's tolerant ideology. 

Let's see.  Culture also says we shouldn't pray in public schools, nor display the Ten Commandments in the classrooms.  We shouldn't teach Creationism, only Evolution.  We shouldn't talk about the Christian's belief about Christmas, but it's okay to teach Islam, and Greek Mythology.  We must teach tolerance in all areas of a person's sexual preferences, birth-decisions.  However...

we should not pay any attention to those who promote abstinance in well, just about anything.  It's all okay.  After all...what makes it wrong?  What consequence is there in disobeying God or ignoring His commands?  None.  There is no hell...only heaven.  Heaven without reward, or heaven with reward.  But there is no condemnation of unholiness.  It's all taken care of through the blood of Jesus when He died for everyone--except...  Well, I can't talk about that because there are no exceptions.   Jesus didn't mean anything by His statement when He said,

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14

So, let's see.  What does a Christian get to share?  Heaven is cool.  We all get to go there.  It doesn't matter what you do on earth because, well, there is no consequence.  I'm having a problem finding that passage in the Bible.  Anyone want to tell me where that is?  While you're at it, can you tell me where it says there is no hell?  That no one is going there? 

When Things Look Hopeless

I can only pray.

He's my brother-in-law.  Married to my husband's sister.  His name is Mike. He's been through surgery, chemo, radiation, more surgery, more chemo.  It started with a small cancer on his tongue, a couple of years ago.  He's not doing well at all.  He's battled long and hard.  On Easter Sunday they took him to the hospital because his legs were swollen so badly.  His kidneys are obviously toxicly stressed out.  He's a young fifty-something.  Very young, full of life.  He needs your prayers; he's so tired of taking morphine for pain.  His wife needs your prayers. Valerie.

Things look hopeless this side of heaven.  So all we can do is pray.  May God give them grace to endure, comfort to ease, and peace that passes all understanding as they deal with each new day.  For this my heart cries out with words I cannot utter.  May the Holy Spirit give meaning and wisdom and send God's perfect will in this hour of hurting and heartache and fear.  Be enough, Oh LORD, be enough for them right now.  hariette 

MONDAY MOURNING MOANS

It's official.  Today is Monday and it is one of the least loved days on the weekly calendar.  For most folks it is the first day of a work week.  For others, it's just another day and is sometimes their "saturday".   Antique shops are notorious for taking Mondays off.  I don't really have any complaints about Monday to speak of.  I have a deadline for my newspaper column on Mondays, so that makes it a rather significant day to remember.  Other than that, I try to take it easy on Mondays and spend a lot of time writing for the week.  For me, it's easy to sense the presence of God and hear Him speak when I read His word on Mondays.  I attribute that to the time I spend focusing on Him in Sunday School, Worship and such.  So Mondays are kinda sweet for me...a day of reflection...a day of planning the week ahead.

Never fails when I go to Facebook, the moans and groans are almost audible.

My blogposts get the most readers on Mondays, too.  So I suppose there is a lot of folks leaning back in their recliners, sipping coffee, sweet tea or energy drinks.  I have it on pretty good authority, if there is any leftover cornbread from Sunday dinner, that a dear friend of mine might even be spooning the soggy stuff out of a glass of buttermilk while he reads Monday-morning bloggers rant, rave, moan, groan, grumble and complain about everything from theology to rain on their parades.

It's odd when you think about it.  We have been given only so many days appointed on earth to breathe, to love, to enjoy, to pursue happiness, yet so often we are found begrudging the existence of the hour at hand.  Wouldn't you think after a Sabbath day of rest, we'd appreciate another day of living with the blessings of God? 

I remember one of the sweetest prayers my elderly daddy ever prayed on a Monday morning.  It was at breakfast as his feet dangled over the edge of his nursing-home bed.  His hair was rumpled, his tee-shirt stained from midnight snacking, and he bowed his head.  In between oxygen-fueled breaths, he says, "Thank you, O Lord for another day of living.  Thank you for Your protection last night.  I especially thank you for this food before me, and pray You use it to nourish my body.  Watch over Shirley and my family and give Hariette a safe trip home.  In Your precious son's name, I pray.  Amen."

Then with his feeble, shaking, Parkinson's-afflicted hand, daddy would lift up the rubbermaid lid to find his usual runny tasteless, scrambled eggs, dried out cold toast, and bowl of grits.  No salt allowed.  No sugar.  No fat.  I'd look at that tray and watch my father's labored breathing, and wonder how in the world he could be so thankful for another day of living.  Yet, he was.  Today, he is fully whole and feasting on the bounty of the Lord.  What a neat thought the LORD just put in my head.  It's enough to make me want to count my blessings for awhile.  How about you?  selahV

SelahV's Saturday Synopsis of Blogs

"SelahV's Saturday Synopsis"

 is my short summation of various blogs (not to suggest this defines the whole of either the blogger or blogger's potential--just the singular post to which is linked in my biased opinion), which I find saliently define the assigned word I award it.

I have no magic polling system which determines the substance of another's mind or spiritual condition.  I can only read and let the Lord use what He uses to feed me a word of encouragement, an inspirational thought, an uplifting slice of life, or edifying breadcrumb for my soul.  I do hope you'll take a few moments and visit the posts I've stumbled upon this week in a search for more positive approaches from SBC bloggers in venue of world-wide witnesses so often overlooked.  Ironically, this week I've chosen all women to spotlight.

So....here goes:

SOUND....For this word I choose Hart for Him, "Encouragement for the Journey". In this day and age, the following quote is one of the most timely and sound pieces of advice ladies can see and hear: " Ladies all of us need to be reminded, from time to time, that what we wear and how we present ourselves does matter."....To read the rest of Dianne Hart's post, just patter over HERE and be encouraged for your journey in spiritual awareness.  Have a heart...go read it.

SOOTHING....for this word I choose "For a Little While", Am I An Unbelieving Believer?  This following phrase jumped out at me when I saw its preceding post with the most darling photo of the writer's 3 year-old son leaping with joy:  "Last night Lily said to me, “Mommy, last night I was praying in my bed that God would..."  To read the rest of this post tip-toe over HERE and stay "for a little while". Her photos are like sunshine.

SENSATIONAL...for this word I choose Kentucky WMU, Linda Cooper's Closing Words: "Did you know that when you have WMU in your church, praying and giving is stronger and a higher % is given to the cooperative program.  We sure have influence!!!!  You all will have to help me on this one…Did he say that WMU pushes pastors or PULLS them along?"  To read the rest of this challenging audacious statement, click HERE.  Seriously, she's serious and in this blogger's opinion, Spot-On.

SENTIMENTAL...for this word I choose More Precious Than Jewels, with a video of "A Late Night Talk".  This post is a superior example of what all dad's should do for their children.  Short videos where you interact a bit with your child.  Having lost a son, and knowing how precious the moments of life are, I can attest that this post is a prime representation of what is definitely "more precious than jewels" left behind to a child without a daddy.  Take time to look at this video and then make time to follow it's simply example.  To see what I mean, go HERE.

SUPERIOR, SALIENT, SOLICITOUS, SIGNIFICANT...for these words I chose Unlocking Feminity with the post "Pink Nails and Princess Boys".  Folks, this post should knock the socks off ya.  Words that clinched the award for Superior blogging are: "Can a man wear a pink dress shirt, and avoid confusion about his masculinity? Culturally – yes. But can a man wear pink nail polish with the same effect? Culturally – no."  To read the entire piece, go HERE and unlock your feminity while understanding masculinity.

SIMPLY SO So...beyond description...for these words I chose My Messy Manger, with "Little Joshy's Passion of Christ".  Truly worth seeing this reenactment of The Passion by a little boy. To see this video presentation go HERE.

Occasionally one word cannot suffice in defining a particular post.  Therein lies the reason I gave four words to one of the blogs.

In future "SATURDAY SYNOPSIS" posts, I shall explore more words such as: STUPENDOUS, SERENE, SUFFICIENT, SUBLIME, SATISFYING, SUBSTANTIAL, SILLY, SARCASTIC, STIFLING, SMOTHERING, SATURATING, SOULFUL and maybe even STUPID.

Should you have a post which you feel best described by one or some of these words, feel free to comment and tell me about them.  Who knows?  I might agree with you.

drum roll, please... My EARTH DAY Contribution...

In honor of Earth Day my granddaughters and I recycled clothespins into caterpillars, un-used coffee filters into wings.  The glory of new life came to marker-colored filters being spritzed with water.  As water touched their coloring, glorious fusions of brilliance appeared.  Just as they struggled to make their crafts, I told them how butterflies struggle to get out of their cocoons.  So they have freedom to fly.

I taught my granddaughters about new life in Christ by way of creepy caterpillars turning into beautiful delicate butterflies.  Girls hate caterpillars...creepy creatures.  Girls love butterflies.  Fascinating creatures.

Ironically, in the center of this filter, Kinsey drew a heart (Haylee's is upside down below); and that heart ends up being the very center of the butterfly we create.  Ya gotta love how God brings all things together for His purpose and plans, sometimes.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

When we place our faith in Christ, we become new.  We get new life.  We are born again.  We died to the old life and rise to walk in the newness of our life in Jesus.  selahV

To see HOW we gave these filters NEW LIFE visit my

KIDS' MATTERS BLOGSITE.

YES...that means you need to click on the link and go see how cute these little gals are as they diligently create their butterflies and give them new life.  There's more to the next post than meets the eye.  So...c'mon over and check it out.  Try it!  You'll like it!

Can We At Least...

Tell?

Tell what?

What God did.

What did God do?

He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus.

What did Jesus do?

He died to pay the price for my sin.

Why?

Because the wages of my sin is death.

Why?

Because God is holy and cannot tolerate sin.

Why would Jesus die to pay the price for my sin?

Because He first loved me.

Why?

Because I am precious in His sight.

Even though I sin?

Yes.

Who should I tell?

Anyone who'll listen.  selahV

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What Would I Give In Exchange?

URGENT 

When You're Heavy Ladened 

URGENT, A Book Review by Hariette Petersen

Profoundly moving.  From the first sentence to the last, "URGENT" gripped my heart and mind.  It penetrated my spirit and touched my soul.  With heartbreaking clarity and honesty, author, Joe Donahue, shares the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his father.  "Urgent" is an accounting.  Donahue gives an account of the sin of his father, and how those sins nearly destroyed him.  He writes:

"Like Bartimaeus, I was just a blind beggar...covered in whatever filth I had been crawling through...blind at heart...worn out clothes wrapped my shivering body during cold nights...Injuries and wounds that would not heal--some wounds caused by my father...I walked bent over in shame...The weight was so great that it often became unbearable...I would weep with my face in the dirt...I could not lift my head. I was useless. Pathetic. Helpless."

He uses clear, simple language. His illustrations are perfect pictures of the urgency he has in his heart for a lost world--a world ravaged by the kind of sin that imprisoned him in a shell of insecurity and anger.  A world without Jesus.  A world in need of a Savior--a world blinded by sin and deceived by Satan's lies.  Donahue's message is clear.

Sin is real.  Sin is nasty.  Sin breeds sin.  Because of sin, people are hurting.  Lives are broken and children feel worthless.  Yet, we have the hope to heal, to mend, to repair and regenerate the soul of man's brokenness.  That hope is Jesus.

Donahue's urgency to share his personal story is palpitating.  He does not whitewash his childhood; he doesn't make excuses for the damage it did to him.  He takes you from empathy for his broken little life to a desire to live the power-filled life he now lives in and through Christ.  Donahue shares how he came to a reckoning with his heavenly Father and how that led him to reconciling the pain inflicted upon him by his earthly father.  Joe shares how Christ healed his past and gave him new life.

The theme of the entire book is as urgent as the title.  It is "igniting a passion for Jesus".  Joe Donahue's need as a little abused boy was urgent.  But no one came.

Joe sees the world's need today is just as urgent as his once was; he works with teens who deal with heartache just as real, just as painful.  He knows the church's need is urgent.  He longs to ignite a passion for Jesus--Jesus the Christ, the Redeemer of lost blinded souls.  In his small volume of 101 pages, Joe weaves scripture throughout his story in such a way that a reader clearly sees who Jesus is, and what He does for those who call on Him.  Joe's transformation could not be more evident...from a blind beggar crying out to Jesus, to a redeemed man of God telling the world they can have Him, too.  Joe's passion gives new meaning to the word URGENT.

Youth need this book today.  Every youth minister should read it and have extra copies to give out.  Every Christian should read it and give it away when they're finished.  It needs to be in every church library.  Buy two copies.  You will want to give at least one away, right away.  Why?  Because it is "URGENT" that you do.

Book can be ordered directly through FreeChurchPress.com.

Joe Donahue is a husband, student pastor, and evangelist.  He's been featured on television shows including The 700 Club and is a popular conference speaker.  He presently serves as the Student Pastor at First Redeemer Church, North Metro Atlanta, GA.  You can find Joe on the web at www.youthevangelist.com.     

Pictures Are Bogus Things

I was asked to send in a photo of myself for use on a profile page for another website which I'll soon be contributing.

They want one that best depicts me.  Oh my, that is funny.  I am the proverbial pajama/sweats/tee-shirt kinda blogger/writer.  Dare I confess?  Make-up is for Sundays.  Most of the time my lap is filled with grandchildren.  That's the picture in my mind...but, let's face it, they want one of those head-shots that get all cut-off when shrunk to fit the teensey photo that shows up on Facebook.  I feel like sending them a picture of my fingers on the keyboard...that's more like me.

I hate taking my picture.  I never like the outcome.  Either my eyes are too open (which makes one eye look really weird), or my eyes are too closed.  I smile alot, so I really think smiling is more me, even if it does show I have two chins.

Sometimes I wanna do one of those photo things that gets you all gussied up and takes shots that erase years of wrinkles.  They position you just so and your worst features are down-played.  But then I think...wouldn't that be deceitful?

Ever look at your picture and want to fix a tooth?  take a tuck?  move a shadow to hide a sagging chin?  Or a double one?  That's me.  I want to nip and tuck and add botox. 

The truth is, no matter what I see when I look at my reflection, I'm never really satisfied.  I accept what is.  I can change some stuff, but other things are what they are--like it or not.  Here I am....

 GOSH, I REALLY NEED A NEW DO...!!  However...

In the final analysis of it all, my greatest desire is to reflect--not me--but Jesus.  Oh, to be complete in His image. selahV (a.k.a. hariette petersen)

A Simple Epiphany from a Six-Year-Old With Spiritual Growing Pains

"I cut it."  Haylee held up her bandaged finger the moment she walked in my door.

Within minutes of playing, she held up another finger, "This one hurts, too."  It wasn't bleeding but skin was definitely separated.  I put a bandaid on her index finger.  An hour passed before she returned and points to the palm of her hand, "This one really stings, Grama."  Again, no blood, just a red area of what appeared to be an old paper-cut.  This time she wanted my "magic" cream.

"What are you doing to yourself, sweetheart?" I asked as I squeezed the Neosporin tube.  "Have you been playing with paper?"  She thought a second and said, "No, I don't know what's doing it."

I considered the paper beads we'd made three days earlier and wondered about tender spots from tiny paper-cuts. Thirty minutes later Haylee appears with another bandaid to replace the one on her palm because it fell off when she washed her hands. As I smoothed the fresh bandaid in place, she announced, "I think I know what is doing this to my hand, Grama."  Anticipating some confession, I looked into her serious honey-brown eyes and said, "Really?"

"Yes, I think I'm growing out of my skin."

Stifling laughter, I choked in reply, "growing out of your skin, huh?"

Sincerity oozed from her expression. "Yes, I've been growing a lot lately, so I think my skin is shedding off."

It's all I could do to keep from bursting out laughing, but I managed to squeak, "I don't think that's it, sweetie.  I think you probably just didn't notice the paper cuts you got last Sunday when we made beads. Just be careful now when you play."

That's how we Christians are sometimes.  We do what we do, blending in with the world's games.  We do not notice the penetrating points of Satan's fiery darts as we move about our daily lives.  Carelessness cuts into our spiritual growth--we shrug it off at the time. Eventually our impatience, selfishness, or pride exposes a less than holy walk with God and burns its way into our minds. We are growing out of our fleshly skin and we can't help but feel the piercing jabs of the Holy Spirit reminding us to walk a bit more carefully, pay a bit more attention, and guard the vulnerable parts of our lives.  Perhaps Haylee is right; we're growing out of our skin.  selahV

Epiphany: "An intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking." Merriam Online Dictionary

We Are Talking FOREVER, Gang, FOREVER

People are turning away from faith, from God, from all they've known and believed true.  They mock; they scorn; they ridicule.

But the LORD endures forever.

The government in Illinois passed a law that prohibits kids from bringing a homemade lunch to school.  Prayer is forbidden.  Children are taught other religions are sacred and to be respected, but Christianity is taboo.

But the LORD endures forever.

Japan's nuclear plant is melting down and will destroy life as Japan once knew.  But the LORD endures forever.

America's politicians are so puffed up with power and self-deception that our blessed country is on the brink of economic collapse.  But the LORD endures forever.

All sin is now categorized in some disease form or another, and people are excused from their sinful immoral actions and choices.  But the LORD endures forever.

Christian churches are being burned in places all around the world.  Christians are literally losing their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  But the LORD endures forever.

Wars upon wars are being waged in the Middle East.  The world is unfaithful.  The governments are unfaithful.  Little is trustworthy.  But the LORD endures forever. 

 ¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
    His faithful love endures forever.

² Let Israel say,
    "His faithful love endures forever."

³ Let the house of Aaron say,
    "His faithful love endures forever."

⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say,
    "His faithful love endures forever."  Psalm 118:1-4

Forever, my friends.  His faithful love endures forever.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the LORD and His faithful love endures forever.

Forever is a long, long time.  People carelessly say they stood in line "forever" at the check out.  They've been waiting "forever" for their tax refunds.  They sat "forever" without being served.  But friends...as long as we've lived, we've only lived a second in the eternity of forever.  I was allowed to have my precious son on earth for 33 years before his appointed time on earth came due.  But that 33 years was but a blink of an eye in comparison to the eternity I get to spend with him and Jesus because "His faithful love endures forever."

Give thanks to the Lord while you have breath.  Give glory to Him Who gives you faithful enduring love--forever.  Say it, my friends, say it.  "His faithful love endures forever."  selahV

So...

I went outside to take a break from writing.  My newly hung hammock beckoned.  I walked out and thought about catching at least 30 minutes to absorb some Vitamin D of which I am sorely lacking.

Cardinals were courting one another.  Doves were cooing.  Tiny bugs were flitting about the air.  Two seconds after I settled into the net hammock strewn between my pecan trees, I heard a "pop!" and my backside hit the ground with a force that reverberated to the tip of my nose.  I took a deep breath of air and laughed.  I recalled Saturday's conversation with my husband who needed hydrocodone for his sore backside due to the hammock breaking when he tested it's strength on Friday.  I thought about Kinsey's crisis on Thursday, when Haylee flipped out of the hammock and the netting caught her younger sister, Kinsey's, front tooth and yanked it right up and out of her gum.

Is this thing cursed?  Seriously, friends.  I went to Lowe's three times to purchase a new hammock.  Each time they didn't have any.  Was God trying to protect me from hammock demons?  I finally took a facebook-pal's advice and ordered one off the internet.  I was terribly disappointed in the strapping that everyone purchased when they purchased a hammock pictured on the page at Amazon.  The strapping wrapped neatly and snuggly around the tree.  Only problem is they didn't include any hooks to attach to the hammock rings.  Not worth the money, believe me.  When the hammock arrived, the netting was not nearly as nice and thick as the roping my previous hammock had.

If I were the kind of person who likes to return stuff and get ripped off for the postage both ways, I would have sent that hammock back.  As it was, I kept it.  So...

I think it is about time to accept the fact I'd best get my Vitamin-D in pill form.  selahV

I'M HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS

Pictured on the left is a dear and nutty friend of mine who wore this mask to a Fall Festival a couple of years ago.  Austin is a staunch conservative, and of course, you know what Obama is.  While Obama seems to be wrestling with who he is these days, my friend has no problem with his identity.  So what about me?

Who am I?  Hariette Petersen or selahV?  Some folks endearingly call me Mrs. V, while others just write "V".  Folks google me with selahV, selahV today, and hariette petersen.  When you google my name, all kinds of things pop up.  Some weird dude stole my moniker early on and even used it to set up a twitter account.  He is "selah Victor", but I've learned to live with it.  I took great pains in deciding upon a "moniker" (or name) for my blog.  I thought you were suppose to have a pseudonym to blog, not use your real name.  I started out with What Matters* and Ended up with SelahV Today.  Today what matters is that selahV is just a blogger named Hariette Petersen who writes on multiple blogs.  Ha!  Tell that to Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo, AOL, Blogger, etcetera, etcetera.

When I was trying to set up a blog to begin my writing ministry, I had all kinds of problems.  It took me so long to learn the lingo of blogging. I didn't know>>>more>

I'm Not So Bad

I've been reading the comments in various blogposts this week.  Every now and then, I jump into the stream, splash around a bit, cool off and tip-toe back to shore.  I pat myself on the back and say, "Whew!  I'm glad I'm not like that person."

"I don't speak disparagingly of another."

"I'm not arrogant."

"I'm not insulting."

"I'm not condescending."

"I'm not bitter."

"I don't drink."

"I'm not struggling with sexual perversion."

"I'm not divisive."

"I don't think I'm better than anyone else."

"I'm not prideful."

"I'm...uh,"

"I'm...not...

so...bad."

"Woe is me, O, Lord."

"God be merciful to me a sinner."

Without Your precious blood outpoured for me...

Without Your mercies, new every morning...

Without Your sacrifice, and obedience unto death...

Without Your love for Your Bride....

Without Your grace, dear Jesus, where, oh, where would I be?"  selahV

BLOG WARS (Part 1)

There really must be a method to a blogger's madness.  Many bloggers visit other bloggers to see what they write.  Then they pick out something about the post, or some comment someone makes in a stream, and their muse goes into overdrive.  Sometimes it happens to me.  I have a cache of devotionals that are a direct result of another's inspiring messages.  (No one at war there.)

However, there are some bloggers whose muse gets drunk and it's no telling where that muse will take them.  They are bloggers gone wild.  Sometimes one blogger posts something that draws blood about a particular subject.  Then a second or third blogger mentions it at their blogsite and then links to the first.  Often bloggers link one another to carry others to the blogs discussing the same subject with different perspectives.  Sometimes those links are constructive and informative.  Other times, one wonders how they arrived; they know they're not in "Kansas", anymore.

I call these blog-wars.  It can be absolutely maddening trying to keep up with the battles, the strategies, the captains, the sergeants and minions that run back and forth pasting comments, links, and supporting opinions.  It can sometimes be humorous to see how quickly someone counters another, as if they are sitting right there at their monitors all day long like a watchman on the frontlines of war.

Ever been to some of those blogs that open up the stream with nothing but a posting box--any topic goes?  You know, like Greta Van Susteren from Fox News?  Those commenters can get really nasty over there.  Not fun to enter that stream.  No one really cares what the other person thinks.  No one wants to carry on conversations or dialogue about a matter of significance.  They just want to voice their opinion and beat others up when they don't agree with them.  I visited a few of those during the 2008 elections.  Not pretty.  Those blogs are doing battle with no strategy of a victor--and no reason to their rhymes.

I don't know what to say about bloggers who find their delight and calling to denigrate.  I really don't.  I don't know what kind of psycholocial reasoning some bloggers have for posting perspectives meant to divide humanity rather than to unite it.  I especially have trouble wrapping my mind around that reasoning when it comes to Christian brothers and sisters.  But it happens.  It makes me wonder, though.  Whatever happened to "do unto others as you would that they should do to you"? 

Do Christians not know that God is not sleeping or slumbering?  Do they not know that He doesn't just look at the outside of man, but He knows the heart, the mind, the intent and motive of each and everything they do?  Do they not realize a dog shall return to its own vomit? (I know, that sounds nasty but it's in the book of Proverbs and really makes a point, here.)

If you came here looking for the battle-front, I probably just disappointed you.  For that I am sorry.  I am truly working through this whole thing myself.  I watch what others write and wonder why.  I figure in the scheme of things, the hay and stubble will eventually be burned away.  The gold and silver will remain and Jesus will get the glory.  What do you think?  selahV 

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL TODAY

Go and tell.

Go where you go today.

Tell whoever you meet about Jesus.

Feed His sheep.  Any person who needs encouragement, affirmation and edification, feed it to them.

Simple stuff, God's will:  go and tell...love and feed.  Love your neighbor as you do yourself.  Love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.

Set yourself apart.  Be salt.  Be light.

Seek first the Lord, and everything else falls into place.

If you're asked to go one mile, go two.

Forgive.  Turn the other cheek.

Do to others as you want them to do to you.  Do you want to be ignored?  Do you want to be insulted?  Do you want to be criticized?  Do you want to be belittled?  No?  then do to others as you'd want others to do to you.  selahV

PERFECTION

I sure do wish it was attainable.

If it were, would we even know it?

Surely perfection is absent of all pride.  We'd have total humility, always be calm, kind, generous, honest, merciful, peaceful, loving.  Oh to be so yielded to the Lord, we could attain such perfection, such purity of mind and spirit, such completeness in Him.  selahV   

FOLLOW ME

It's ironic.  The term used in cyberspace to get folks to read what you write, to keep in touch with your activities and thoughts, is simple:  "Follow Me".  How do we know a person is following us?  Well, for one, they click on your name and put their name on your list of followers. Their little picture shows up in your profile.  They are identified with you.  But do they really follow you and care what you are about?  Jesus had many people who claimed they wanted to follow Him.  Remember the rich young ruler?

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 11:22. NIV (©1984)

Here we see Jesus' answer to the rich young ruler who'd followed every commandment but now wanted to know how to inherit eternal life.  Jesus was tough on him.  Just because the ruler did all the right things, and said all the right things, he still held onto his wealth.  Jesus told him to sell all he owned, and give it to the poor, then he'd have treasure in heaven.  Then he could "follow" Jesus.

Ever wonder what Jesus would say you need to do in order to "follow" Him?  Perhaps you already know.  Perhaps it is your own system of belief or non-belief.  Perhaps it is simply the same thing that the rich young ruler lacked--faith.  He trusted in his own behavior, his own allegiance, his own thinking, actions and observance of what he knew to be perfect.  Yet it was not enough.

He held onto his own view of what was needed.  When it was made apparent that he truly wasn't committed to following Jesus, he went away sad.

Do you know someone who is disheartened?  Do you know someone who cannot let go of his own "whatever", which keeps him from following Jesus?

I'm very careful with those I click on "to follow".  I want to be sure that the people I follow share a common bond in Christ.  Jesus wasn't all that interested in the throngs; He was interested in the faithful--those who would not turn away when His way got rough, when they could not see the path before them.  He wanted followers who truly wanted to know Him and enjoyed His presence.  For me, that makes following Him all the more appealing.  How about you?  selahV

Can a Believer Lose Faith and OTHER QUESTIONS

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39 NIV (c) 2011

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Is the love of God synonymous with the salvation of God?

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4

Is it a valid excuse on judgment day to say  The god of this age--satan--blinded my mind, so I could not see?

To me, there is as much validity in that excuse as Adam's and Eve's excuses in the Garden of Eden.

But what about the person who once professed belief in Christ and now rejects it?  His/her eyes now blinded by satan's logic, reason, rationale and disbelief--Where will that person spend eternity?  Can a Believer ever truly unbelieve?  Would this person be an example of the seed that withers, or is plucked up by the birds, or never really took root in the soil?

I ask these things because I have a friend who once followed Jesus and believed in Him.  Now, this friend denies belief in Jesus and Christianity.  What say you?

DISCIPLESHIP IS A SIMPLE THING

Years ago I thought a disciple of Christ was a person who shared Jesus everywhere one went.  I talked about Him at the laundry, in the grocery check-out line, and on a park bench.  I didn't wear a Jesus-lettered tee-shirt, mind you...just impulsively blathered on and on about Him.

I thought discipleship meant visiting the sick,

helping the poor,

giving tithes and offerings,

and attending all the Bible study groups one could schedule in between eating, sleeping and working.

When I read about the twelve disciples Jesus picked to follow Him and take His message of resurrection to the world, I thought, "no way".  I'd never be able to leave my life behind and follow someone without any idea of where I'd spend the night.  However, I wonder, isn't discipleship just that simple?

Does it have to be complicated?  Do we have to take a survey?  Is that what the disciples did when the Lord sent them out two by two?

Must discipleship fit within a sliver of a pie-chart for analyzing?  Is it something so complex we need several books to figure it out?  Does it need to be more clearly defined?  I don't think so.  To me it's simple.

It may not seem simple to some.  It may be filled with schedules, and appointments, and studies, and planning, and meetings in conference rooms with pitchers of water to quench the thirst of those debating strategies and methods.

However, at the risk of annoying that type-A person who must have every single area of life organized just so, let me offer a pinch of what discipleship is according to Jesus:

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42

A cup of cold water.

It's also giving up one's right to be right,

and giving up all wrongs to the Savior who shed His blood upon a cross to attone for each and every sin.

It's choosing to pick up one's cross--the daily grind and difficulty--the weight of suffering with full knowledge that Calvary is but a temporary place to an eternal day of bliss.

Along the way, we give to those who give their lives for Jesus.  We encourage one another and even carry their crosses for them at times.  We teach the hungering thirsty souls that love is greater than hate, and forgiveness is better than bitterness.  We point others to Jesus in our every word and deed, and abstain from all things which might hinder their ability to see and hear God's still small voice.  We set ourselves apart and keep God's Word hidden in our hearts so we might be able to speak His Word to others in time of need.

It's not as complicated as some might think to be a disciple.  It's costly.  Though grace is free, discipleship takes everything we are in every way each day.  And when we give ourselves over to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus, we discover the investment in this world is but a pittance to the return we'll find in the mansion God is preparing for we who persevere in faith.  In the meantime, we are blessed with peace that passes all understanding, joy unspeakable, and love unending with mercies new every morning.  Are you thirsty?  do you know someone who is?  selahV

"The Donald" Trumps OBAMA 2012 Announcement

That's right!  Word is out that "The Donald" plans to stand on the steps of Barack Hussein Obama's birthplace to announce his candidacy for 2012.  Supposedly his announcement will coincide with a groundbreaking ceremony to restore the homeplace.

The Donald foresees a fantastic tourist attraction, complete with condos encircling the vacation paradise.  He is certain it will be a huge return on his investment as he places on display the original "birth certificate" purchased in a private auction bid against the Smithsonian Museum for 8.5 million dollars.

"The Donald" further plans to give all proceeds from the attraction to finance his lakefront condos for all who are displaced due to the massive restoration project.  Nestled beneath a giant cypress tree, the one-room Kenyan hut was crane-lifted to the second floor of the newly built museum which will house the well-guarded and much debated birth certificate.

Need I say it?

No?

Well, shucks, I should have known you'd know it's just

APRIL FOOL'S! 

 

IS IT REALLY A WASTE OF TIME?

Sometimes I wonder where in the world did 62 years go?

After today, I know what happens with about 4 hours.

It's making sure a hubby (if you are a woman), take his medicine before he leaves the house.

It's babysitting grandchildren and teaching them befriending an Iraqi family is more than a ministry--it's love.

It's visiting McDonald's, filling cups, finding straws, and handing out five Happy-Meals while simultaneously opening toys and distributing little ketchup cups.  It's insisting kids eat their chicken nuggets before they get a chocolate chip cookie, or go to the play area.

It's putting on shoes and taking off shoes and putting on shoes, at least 6 times in the course of events.  Two hours after ignoring whines, but paying special attention to boo-boos and blisters, we hit the Public Library to help an immigrant apply for a library card. 

It's keeping two four-year-olds, and one six-year-old occupied while my Arabic-speaking friend tries to find a book (out of a gazillian), to practice reading English.

It's guiding (uh, manipulating), children to choose appropriate books for their reading levels.  It's reading a book about Rotten Ralph's rotten behavior (three times), while overseeing two kids playing the Arthur game on the library's computer.

Sixty books and two more hours later, we're checking out 8 books and filling out library forms.  I'm trying to get out of the building before one of the three kids gets knocked over while playing tag on the playroom area rug.  When Abodda starts crying, I am praying a prayer of thanksgiving that (before the day began), my four-year-old Kinsey insisted I read one of Disney's Princess books, where Belle showed Chip how to practice patience (I figure God strategically placed that one in my life to forewarn me of things to come).

Between seeing my hubby off to work and going to pick up my grandchildren for our McDonald's/Library adventure today, God also had me write devotionals on measuring words, and being filled with strength, and praying for power in our weakest moments.

I also had just enough time to read my new-found blog-sister's post Putting On The Brakes, and realize now, how providential her words were to my own situation.

After making round sandwiches, having a tea-party, attending to potty breaks, answering emails, and consoling long-distant grief-stricken friends, I found another message for my wearied time-worn frame:

My life is probably not much different than anyone else's. Everyone is busy.

My four hours had far more situations occur than I lay before your weary eyes, today.  Suffice it to say, I realize that all the little things, which seemingly rob us of important moments of life, are really the big things that restore the time we think is misspent.

For at the close of day, I am reminded of the bear-hug I received and the thank you voiced by my Arabic-speaking friend.  I still see Abodda's tear-streaked face because he didn't want us to go home.  I am content in knowing yesterday's four hour portion of my 62 years, was spent exactly like my Lord wanted it spent.  And as I consider what today holds, I shudder a bit, yet find myself believing it's never too late when you invest your time in another's life for God's glory.  selahV

Hey...don't rush off.  Am I alone?  Do you ever think the little things are too little to count? 

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