My Brother

After over 20 years, I finally was able to talk to my brother, Mark, this week. I had no idea where he was, what he was doing or even if he was alive. My friend Gaylin one time offered to go with me to Denver to try to find him. I have prayed for him and thought about him so often. I am beyond thankfulness to God for bringing him back into my life. I am filled with joy just knowing he is happy and doing well, and most importantly, that he is a believer.

This reminds me, of course, of how much God loves it when a lost person is found and brought into the kingdom. We pray for years sometimes and then our prayer is answered. Sometimes our prayers are not answered, even after many years of praying. I would like to encourage you though to continue those prayers. Every prayer stands in the presence of God, active and alive, until the day we all return to our real home in Heaven. God is faithful to cherish those prayers and the hearts that prayed them. Your prayers may still bear fruit, even if you are no longer here praying them.

Obligatory New Year Post

Goodbye 2010 and hello 2011. 2010 brought many changes to our family, the most significant of which was the addition of granddaughter Riley Danielle Arie Thomas. She is almost 9 months old and is a complete joy. Missy, her mama, works, so I get to take care of her every weekday.

In 2010, I reconnected with old neighbors and old friends from Colorado. It has been great to hear how their lives have turned out. Thanks to facebook, I'm able to keep in touch with several of them regularly.

The main reason I'm blogging today is to share a little about the teaching we had in church today. It was about being "all in" for Jesus. The study is 5 weeks long, and this week's installment was about bowing in worship. Real worship is not limited to time slots or places. It is the spontaneous exaltation of God, not entertainment. Real worship will involve wonder, witnessing and warfare. In this world where commitment seems to be a thing of the past, our pastor encouraged us not to be on the sidelines when it comes to our commitment to Jesus. The scripture he used was Acts 16:16-40.

Our local religious radio station has also issued a challenge to choose one word that will remind us during the year to maintain our relationship with God. My word for this year is "stand." No matter what, I will stand with the Holy Spirit at my side, my fellow warrior in this spiritual battle we call life.

Our home bible study group is studying the book "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan. It is a study about the Holy Spirit. Chan also wrote "Crazy Love." I've read both and encourage you to read them if you have a chance. I'd like to hear your thoughts about them if you have a chance.

God bless you all, and I hope your 2011 is a year filled with wonder and growth (not in wealth, necessarily, but in your relationship with God).

Venting

Haven't blogged for a long time. I've been enjoying taking care of my beautiful granddaughter, Riley Danielle Arie Thomas. She's awesome and so much fun!

I've been listening to a lot of different stories on Beck and Fox, etc. Saw the video of the two black panther members intimidating voters at the presidential election in 08. One of them later was shown venting his hatred of white people and wanting to kill white babies. He derided black men for dating white women.

I wanted to ask him what he thought about our biracial president and his feelings about the fact that Obama's mother was white and his father was black. Would he make these comments to Obama or his father in person?

This same person commented to one of the poll workers at said 08 election site that "now you'll find out what it's like to be ruled by a black man." I think what is so sad about it all is that this man probably thinks that because Obama is part black, somehow he is going to make all black people live a wonderful life now. I don't think he realizes that Obama is first and foremost a politician, just like his predecessors and cohorts, and is really only looking out for his agenda, his place in history and his own special interests.

One of the reasons I want to blog about this is because one of the main objectives of this administration (at least it seems this way to me), is to divide us and cause unrest among us. Congratulations! Mission almost accomplished. I want to encourage all of you to not engage in bashing of each other, either along party lines or because of differeing opinions. Remember, we live in a free country. Your first concern should be maintaining your freedom (your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness). This administration, along with several previous administrations, is carrying on the slow degradation of a free country. Obama will be in power at the most 8 years. We didn't get to this point of a nearly socialistic/communistic state because of one or two presidents. It's much more the result of the congress people who have been in Washington for decades. And it's OUR fault!

I will not let a few career politicians define who I am as an American. I am not mean (as Michelle Obama believes); I am not a coward (as Eric Holder thinks); I am not stupid (as Bill Maher comments); nor am I racist (as everyone in this administration, the media and activists like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton want to push down our throats). I am 57 years old. I have never once in my life, in Colorado or Missouri, or anywhere else I have traveled, heard a white person talk about hating black people. I only see racism demonstrated in sound bites and video clips.

Now, I am not saying that racism doesn't exist. After all the KKK is still alive and kicking, unfortunately, along with the Black Panthers, LaRaza and other groups of color that can't seem to move on. How do we get past this? There is only one way! As a Christian, I am called to love everyone as I love myself. When we hear someone make racist comments, we must call them into accountability. To simply say someone is racist is not acceptable: back up your comments.

I've rambled on, I know. I would like to encourage everyone to pray for a change of heart in America. As Christians, we should be encouraging peace, grace and mercy. I have made a personal commitment to pray for the black panther member who "hates every iota of a 'cracker.'" I don't know where his hatred comes from, but I know who can heal his heart of stone and give him a heart of love.

God bless.

Do Not Support Cap and Trade

Here is a link to a video that will give you information about the real impact cap and trade will have on the "global climate change" that is taking over the thinking of so many people. It shows how little impact anything we change will actually have. It also shows the Obama administration's true motive behind this legislation. It is not good for anyone but the few who will make millions. Do some further investigation. You may have heard derisive language from media and the white house about Glenn Beck. We have listened to him for 3 years. He is always right on the money about what he says is going to happen. He doesn't lie or present conspiracy theories. He gives you information so you can research it further. Check it out. http://media.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/40006/
Let me know what you think or if you find anything further about these topics.

Sustenance

I visited a website today for the first time that is specifically for women who have experienced the death of their child(ren). I'm sure men also read the entries, since they suffer just as much as women, but I understand the thoughts behind the blogger's purpose.

I cried reading the entries, remembering the same things I went through that they were blogging about. Some were so very much in despair that I wished I could sit and cry with them and somehow encourage them. I did feel uplifted in that I felt like I wasn't alone 2 1/2 years after Dan's passing, still feeling the freshness of the pain. Still feeling so very sad, day after day, but wanting to trust the Lord to help me through; and to also minister to my husband, daughter and others as well. I know that every time I have been at my lowest points, God has been faithful to send a phone call, a card, an encouraging word, a hug. . . He is so wonderful that way. He has brought me great joy during this time also. There are people I know now that I am so thankful to have in my life, that I would not have known if it wasn't for Dan's passing. Things about Dan that I wouldn't have known, how unselfish he was, how respected and loved he was - because those are things Dan wouldn't have told us.

Don't get me wrong. I would give everything to have Dan back, including my own life; but God promises that He will be with us in our storms and will use these situations to bring us to a deeper relationship with Him, if we only trust Him!

Just wanted to let others know how good God is and that He is there, no matter what the circumstance. He will bring you through, if you only surrender to His love and grace. God bless you all today.