Critical Thinking At A Critical Time

Even though September 11 was over a week ago, I continue to remember the impact of that day 11 years ago and then what I perceive as the minimal attention to that day last week.

"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." Revelation 9:11

Abaddon means "destruction" and Apollyon means "destroyer." A destroying spirit has deceived mankind. Because man is deceived, he does not realize that he has been the dupe of a destroying spirit.

Mankind, with these awesome powers and intellect, uses them to destroy, to maim, to sear, to rape, to exploit. It happens on a massive scale. It also happens in individual relationships with one another.

This destroying, deceiving spirit, through his minions, the demons, is able to deal with us on an individual basis. He can deceive us into using our powers to go counter to what God intended, to what God instructed all the way back in the Garden of Eden.

I think back to the following years of the movies and TV specials on the events of 9/11 and how they all were meant to instruct, enlighten and strike a tender patriotic cord in us. These movies were not meant to entertain - as there was nothing entertaining about that day - or the days that followed.

One of the most searing memories I have is the end of the movie about the plane that went down in the Pennsylvania field, the people in the plane bent over awaiting impact, praying aloud to God and the terrorists pilots in the cockpit praying aloud to their God, as they were going down. There was this split screen that showed both groups of people praying fervently and passionately to the God that they served, loved, believed in.

As we have a enter into our presidential election home stretch, I'm concerned about the weakness that our country will experience during election time. This always seems to be when other countries are watching us the closest. We currently have much unrest regarding our country, our embassies and lack of power and control being present around our Americans abroad.

There are people who think that they are 'serving' their God and are deceived in their hearts and minds to hurt and destroy Americans - both here in America and on foreign soil.

Our country and those that serve to protect it are vulnerable. We (Flathead Community) have a National Guard Unit (over 70 people) deploying to Afghanistan on November 4th. Our Presidential Election is November 6th, in 47 days. These are our people, our co-workers, husbands and fathers and wives and mothers going over to Afghanistan at the most concerning of time.

Please continue to pray during this time for our country, those preparing to lead our country and those serving our country to ensure our safety, freedom and future.

T-Minus 7 Days

Sunday 5/6/2012

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

~ James 1:2-3, NLT

Everyday I get a scripture sent to my email. I read them everyday, many days they are spot on as far as speaking to my life at that moment, some days, not so much.

Right now, everything seems to speaking to my life. Whether it's about family, children, spiritual walk, work, whatever, life is in a constant state of change/compromise/challenges right now.

But nothing comes close to getting ready to send my son off to the Marines. Crazy, even when I write this - my chest tightens.

What was it like for families back when there was the draft? When families, sons, husbands didn't have the luxury of opting out or not ever considering entering the military in the first place? I keep these thoughts in perspective because it helps normalize what my family is going through right now.

The date is on the horizon for Jesse to leave. The reality of this event is that I can't change it, we can't go around it, we have to walk through it as a family together.

I have many well wishers and pray warriors and supporters during this time. I'm very grateful for them. When the topic of Jesse leaving comes up - I never fully say what I'm thinking and feeling. But for the record, this isn't just about me and Jesse, mother and son. It's about Jesse and Jasmine, husband and wife. It's about Gordy and Jesse, father and son. It's about my other 7 children and Jesse and the gaping hole that will be felt when he isn't available to them for playing music, jokes, games, pranks, playing games...A new wrinkle with Jesse is that Aaron will now have to share the importance of November 11th (Aaron's birthday with Jesse now, as it's also Veteran's Day).

So there it is; the serious countdown is on; T-minus 7 days.

Blessed Clucking

A long few weeks, led to an early night to bed. ONLY to wake up too early and not be able to go back to sleep. I thought about blogging about something - then thought better of it, sometimes 4 a.m. blogs are NOT a good idea. I cruised thru my old abandoned myspace and re-read old blogs from there. This one seems to be the most fitting - from then to the present:

Oct 15, 2008
Enough already...
Current mood:blessed

Life has been extremely busy lately. Some people have been very helpful and then some have been standing on the sidelines clucking their tongues about 'whether or not I can handle it all '- 'or always making comments to me about having too much on my plate' or whatever...those are not what I would consider encouraging or supportive statements - in fact - I find myself - dismissing them and their comments from my day...I can't attend to that type of negativity right now.

If anyone truly knows me and supports me as a woman, wife, mom, friend - they would take the time to say to me - 'I am praying for you', 'I thought about you today and wanted to let you know' - 'that even though you are too busy - I understand'.

I learned a long time ago - that I do not lead my life - God does. When I handed my life over to Him and I believe that He loves me - more than anything. More than a fat kid loves cake...

He told me - "it's you and me kid - some things are gonna hurt - but it will be good for you - growing is painful sometimes - that is why they call them 'growing pains' but through it all, all will be done to glorify Jesus - not Berni, get used to it."

Then God promised me a life filled with hope, happiness and wealth.

Not wealth like lots of green money and financial freedom - but wealth in the ownership of viewing a wonderful sunrise - for free; wealth in the abundance of many babies (that turn into wonderful adults) that I get to love daily; wealth in the enjoyment of friendships - some for a lifetime and some for a season.

And then the most awesome gift of all - a hope in life everlasting...I start my day - in God's presence - sometimes it is a nice long conversation - sometimes - it's just a check in - like today's texting.

Today - I rec'd this daily devotional from Greg Laurie - his walk and talk with Jesus - really ministers to me - especially when others are not seeking to be supportive or encouraging.

I want to share pieces of it...maybe then some can understand that I'm not overwhelmed to the point of not being effective as a woman, wife, mom, friend - but I am fully seeking to do His Will - even when the days are long - and nights are short - and conversations with others are even shorter.All I do - is for Him - from raising my babies; to the work I do....

The Search for GodNo one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. — Romans 3:11

Often we hear people say, "I'm on a spiritual journey. I am trying to find the truth. I am trying to find the light. I am trying to find God. I'm searching for God." Yet the Bible says that no one is really searching for God.

You would think that with all the religious belief systems in the world, this could simply not be. Yet God plainly declares in His Word, "If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Let me be blunt: If you are seeking God, then you will find your way to Jesus Christ. And if you don't find your way to Jesus Christ, then you are not seeking God. You might be playing religious games. You might be dabbling with various belief systems. But the true seeker will find the true God, and those who claim to be true seekers yet reject Jesus Christ are not being honest with God or with themselves.

Religion is humanity's search for God. But Christianity is God's search for humanity.

I have heard people say, "I found the Lord 10 years ago," as though God had been lost. But God wasn't lost; we were. God is seeking to save us, and if we really want to know Him, then we will find Him. People do not come to Jesus Christ because they bristle at the thought of being sinful. They are unwilling to accept God's assessment of them. They are unwilling to acknowledge their guilt. That just bothers them.

Instead, they want to believe they can get to heaven by their own merit, by their goodness, and by their own deeds. But the Bible says that simply isn't so. ~GREG LAURIE~

Love people, use things..not vice versa ~

There is a saying that one should 'love people and use things, not love things and use people'.

I think about this everytime I see a human advertisement. Like a person that is standing on a busy street corner with a sign for a business that has a sale, close out, open house, whatever. I have a HUGE aversion to using people in this manner. I just think that it is so demeaning to have a person stand on a corner as an advertisement.

Isn't that almost like what a prostitute does?