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I just got off the phone with my brother… he didn’t need to say: Rejoice with me! It was in his voice, though, and the words couldn’t come tumbling out fast enough when he was telling me of his new job — every sentence as if to say: Rejoice with me! I think of this sort of rejoicing from time to time. I think of this sort rejoicing when talking with a loved one a long distance away. I think of it when I pray for my family… when I pray for friends… when I pray for people who’ve lost their way — or never knew.
Think of the enthusiasm in heaven! Because I have a page on our website dedicated to Prodigals and Waywards, I receive mail from mothers and dads who are grieving the lostness of their children. I marvel that there’s not more grief in the church over the lost sheep — it is grievous, really. But it seems our politically correct society even infiltrates the church and no one seems to want to offend anyone. Imagine: hell will surely be filled with unoffended souls — for we already see the church is filled with presently unoffended, unaffected and ineffective souls. Is it because we haven’t told the Truth? Is it that we’re too ashamed to speak the Truth plainly? Hell will be filled with the souls we were too afraid to touch… too afraid to offend… too afraid to talk to… too afraid to say, Rejoice with me!
Last night he read us a story — the incredible story of survival of a group of Holocaust Survivors… who escaped certain death by hiding in one of the world’s largest caves. You can read this story for yourself here. God has been so very, very merciful to us all. I kept thinking of the times we’ve fretted life… considering our small. small. inconveniences and trials. I shall never forget this story. Ever. In light of yesterday’s post regarding the real state of the union… here you go: The State of the Union Address – part one. Listen. if. you. can. BO: “Our most urgent task upon taking office, was to shore up the same banks that caused this crisis [Wow.]. It was not. easy. to. do. And if there’s one thing that’s unified Democrats and Republicans and everybody in between – is that we all hated the bank bailout! I hated it. (applause) I hated it (chuckle – applause). I hated it (more applause). You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal.” O wow. Think how many… It happens every year. I resolve to do this or that thing – more or less or better or not at all. In addition to those resolves, I always think there’s something unique or particularly inspiring about the New Year. New Year. New calendar. New date book. New pages for the notebook — yes, as antiquated as it is and it remains, my palm pilot, my blackberry, my iphone, my lapbook, etc., etc is, simply: a spiral bound notebook of lined paper in which I write notes, message, recipes, web addresses, grocery lists, quotes, Scripture verses. And doodles. Another thing coincidentally happens. I sort of secretly resolve to not resolve to do anything new/better/different/again. Well, except to lose weight, read through my Bible, spend more time in prayer, spend more time with my family, exercise, read more, write a book, blog more regularly… It’s like I attempt to trick myself into complying with new (actually, old – but recycled) resolutions. I do this by saying I’m not going to make any *written* resolutions. I say: I’m just going to do a few things better. Two days into the New Year’s Resolutions new year I’ve already had some recalibrating (I got that one from President Obama). I’m recalibrating several things. My time schedule, bedtime schedule, weightloss, exercise routines and Bible reading. My-o-my is it ever easy to set lofty goals on December 30th. You know, when the resolve to not eat any more Christmas goodies is strongly in place — you know, bcz you’re sort of full & tired of them — that, and the New Year looks far off!! And doable. It’s easy to sort of smugly think you’ll do so much better with the new year on the horizon — that, and a new decade, too! So, if you’ve already had to readjust or recalibrate the expectations/resolves you put on your self or things you wrote down on a scrap of paper. Know that you’re not alone. Studies show that something like 10-12% of “resolvers” ever keep those resolutions anyway. That’s not saying that you shouldn’t strive for bettering yourself or that you shouldn’t regroup and get back up and keep on keeping on… it just means that you’re not alone. There are a bunch of other people who’re commiserating with you on this one. So, my solution? My advice to you (and to myself)? What does the LORD require of thee? Ask Him… He is ready to answer you. His Word says that He has shown you what is good and what He requires of you (Micah 6.8):
May He richly bless you, keep you, direct you and joy over you with singing in this new year! with love, pamela May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His Face to shine upon you and give you peace. I pray you have received the gift of Christ… the gift of salvation through faith in the Only One who can save, the only perfect atonement for mankind. His life for yours, His peace for your pain, His forgiveness for your sin, His payment in full, His presence in your life. Christmas is about His presents. His presence. God bless you this Christmastime with the Joy of the Greatest Gift ever Given. with love, pamela Of some sort of trend or controversy or something… These are just some things I’ve been mulling over since seeing a Levi’s ad.
Do you s’pose this just might be a boon to the company — a marvelous marketing campaign that just might bolster sagging retail sales? I appreciate the seeming change of heart at LS & Co — or the affirmation that men — hard working men — not social causes, have built their company. That, or someone in their ad department had a brilliant idea to market pants to — da ta da dahhhhhh — Men! I remember fifteen years, or so, ago that Levi Strauss was on my personal “do-not-buy-retail” product list. That was for its stand on marriage and benefits to other than traditional marriage and later its stand on the Boy Scouts, et al. Well… I feel fairly certain that their overall corporate position on roles and gender blending/blundering and moral ambiguity, etc., etc., has not changed. And, for that matter, the company has more than likely attempted to keep a step ahead of metropolitan trends. Not that Levi Strauss is, in the grand scheme of things, the end all be all, but as marketing goes, there will be others who join in the affirmation of God ordained uniqueness just as there will be those who mock the company relentlessly. Though you won’t hear about God or God’s marvelous design. You’ll hear something else — a message of the importance of being strong, perhaps of men who are dashing and debonair, mannerly and in style. Or something along that line. I think just like this country is bound to break under the strain of economic chaos, so also, men can’t stay on this feminized or, figuratively speaking, emasculated role to which domineering women have relegated them. Men were not created to be what many women are demanding them to be. So, do you think men might finally take a stand against the lies that have been foisted on them and begin to see their incredible worth, their design and God given roles and responsibilities — as defenders, leaders, protectors, providers, endowed by the Lord to be heads of their homes and responsible for their families to be respectful and to guard women and children, etc., etc.? Or will that happen when women embrace their unique and precious design and calling… and eagerly live it?
It’s a long story. Suffice it to say that I’ve just had a sorta difficult autumn time and it’s been pretty much an uphill climb to stay on track… you know, the kind of track your thoughts travel on. Something I’ve never been really very good at is handling discouragement — or hiding it, either — yeah, I know… I tend to be pretty good at encouraging others in trials… But, somehow that doesn’t always translate into a personal reality. I mean, I can really see great good in others. I can really see beautiful qualities, abilities and potentialities in others. And, generally speaking, I can empathize with others and am quick to see and offer Scriptural solutions or spiritual encouragement when others face trials, disappointments, discouragement or depression. I hope I’ll see the brightness of the new season as sort of a signal to turn the corner and embrace the new year. I’ve been praying to this end… and I’ve been praying to have a new and keen sense of purpose and worth in and for the Lord. To this end, today I began to do the things I know lead to more right things — more bright things. Tis, after all, the season to be jolly, isn’t it? And I have just returned from a very brief, but very wonderful few days away with my husband… so one would think there’s no reason whatsoever for continuing to feel a little blue. I know this sort of thing happens before a great change or a new adventure is embarked upon. And I do know that the Lord is prompting me and prodding me in several areas. Still, the twinge of uncertainty and mild anxiousness continues. Maybe you’ve experienced seasons like this — I know I have in the past (and perhaps that’s why I’m not all the alarmed at the depth and length of this one) and am always amazed at the gracious Hand of the Lord in these times. His tender mercies are new every morning and, surely, Great is His faithfulness. And so, coming to the longest or shortest (depending on how you look at it) day of the year, there’s great inspiration and anticipation for brighter days ahead.
“I saw the baby… and it was over… what am I doing? … what am I doing here? … there was life in here and now, there’s not… they don’t want people to see what’s really happening in a woman’s womb… this is it, I’m leaving… Planned Parenthood put a restraining order on me now that they know what I am working with the pro-life movement…” — Abby Johnson |
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Enthusiasm’s contagious! Isn’t it interesting how quickly our mood or emotions can change by being around someone who’s enthused about something? Or, someone who’s elated over accomplishing some great thing? It’s kind of like the bible verses in Luke 15:
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