Hello everyone!! (I know that this post is long, but please humor me and read! You won't regret it!)

As promised, here is the latest update on the leader boards. I have nothing but good news (and much thanks!) to give! First of all, upon announcement of the prayer pledge challenge, I had a LOT of people respond; and mainly (if not solely) from my loyal friends at www.sparkpeople.com! (THANK YOU SPARKERS!!!) So far, Pennsylvania is in the lead for that leader board. We have three people praying in that state!! Way to go Pennsylvania!! Thanks for the "brotherly love."

As far as pledged donations goes, the leader board has stayed the same. I have gotten a few more pledges from a couple people in my state (though it still keeps us in second place). I am just WAITING for the moment when we can surpass New York for first place!! LOL But, being that my "generous and anonymous donor" is from New York, we will certainly have a challenge of catching up with him! I sure would like to be able to do so, because my donor certainly likes that he's 1 right now, and might be persuaded to give even MORE if a state catches up to him!! So, let's give him a run for his money everyone!! Can you help me out here?

Of course, the main goal of all of this is for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Just looking at the leader boards, you can see what your giving has done!! THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has contributed!!

I am also welcoming new pledgers! Pledges have slowed a little, though I know that the "eleventh hour" could really prove to be a blessing. I wouldn't be surprised if I got an outpouring from people at the last minute. However, I pray that procrastination won't get in the way of pledging. I still have a lot of states unaccounted for, and I'm eager to have a complete list!!

Once again, you don't have to give me the money directly. All I need is for you to send me a message with your name and address and how much you would like to pledge. Then, I will turn in the information at the walk, on September 15th, and the clinic will mail you the donation form for you to send back to them. That's it! That's all there is to it!! Any amount, big or small, will help! Pledge a buck if that is all you can do! Even if every state pledged only a buck, that would be fifty bucks! God will take any amount and multiply it! Just give from your heart! Keeping in mind that it will help women and babies. My friend, Heather, (http://www.myspace.com/n2jc) chose life for her son. She is one of the many that relied on a crisis pregnancy center for help and caring when she found out she was pregnant. And, because of places like that (and caring people like you!) she is now raising a beautiful and healthy baby boy and is now helping me with this "walk for life" in order to bless and help provide aid to other people who are in the shoes that she once walked in.

There's only one more thing that I have to say before you scroll down to the leader boards. I would just like to take this moment to share with you a poem that I wrote. Although the story I tell is fictional, its aspects are all too real. I pray that it touches your heart. It sure touched mine to write it as God gave it to me. God bless you!

Hearing Their Hearts' Cry

By Melissa

Her hands are shaking as she sits in her car. She nervously gazes at the clinic from afar. Nervous and scared, she wipes the tears off of her face. Never did she dream that she would be coming to this place.

She braves her fears as she decides to venture out. Embarrassed and ashamed, she looks self-consciously about. What if someone saw her? What would they say? What would her parents think if they knew she had come here today?

She timidly approaches the clinic door. She takes a deep breath as she tries to visualize what might be in store. Then, she gasps, because much to her dismay, she realizes that this small little clinic is not even open today. The clinic is tiny, but they do the best they can. Yet, with their limited budget, they can't always meet demand. Their resources are sometimes limited and their hours can be too. They desperately depend on the kindness of others. Oh, if they only knew!

In a panic, she wonders what to do. Tears well up in her eyes as she wonders, "God, where are you? Can anybody help me? Does anybody care? If this baby isn't a mistake, then why isn't anybody here? I need to talk to someone! I can't do this alone." Then, she gets an idea, and reaches for her cell-phone. She walks to a nearby phone booth so she can search for answers in the phone book. Surely there must be another place she can go. All she had to do was look.

She stands there searching; searching for hope. She says to herself, "There must be someplace out there that can help me cope." She fights to remember the name of a place she had heard about at school; a place that so many kids seemed to think was cool. She had heard this place provides help and can take all your problems away; a place that always knew the right words to say. They care about your health and your life and make every effort to minimize your burdens and strife. "Oh if only I could remember! I really wish I could!" Then, she did remember. The name was "Planned Parenthood."

She looked up the phone number and called it right away. Oh, what joy! They were open today!! Though the voice didn't sound that welcoming, she knew what to do. She had had a glimmer of hope when the woman said, "Come on in. We'll take care of things for you."

She got in her car and got onto the highway. She drove to Planned Parenthood to see what they would have to say. When she got there, she was a little surprised. Unlike the clinic, this was much bigger in size. They have very little trouble getting financial aid. In fact, the funds they have raised, over the years, total hundreds of millions of dollars made. Celebrities and everyday citizens contribute. The government does too! They donate to Planned Parenthoods with tax dollars that come from you! (http://www.stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com/)

She gets out of her car, and strolls up to the door. She is surprised to find protesters galore. What are they talking about? This clinic does WHAT?! She is now scared to go in, but feels stuck in a rut. The pregnancy center was closed, so this is her only option, right? So, why was everyone around her putting up such a fight?

Shaky and confused, she decides to go in. She registers, sits down, and tries to brave the turmoil within. There is chaos outside, and chaos in her heart. She tries to make sense of things, but doesn't know where to start.

When she hears her name, she goes in for a consultation. The staff assures her that they understand her frustration. "We know it's a burden to be in your shoes. We'll help you. We'll fix your problems. We'll show you what to do." Before she knows what is happening, they advise her to abort. She had never really considered it. It was always the last resort. They were right. She wasn't really ready for a baby. However, she just couldn't seem to grasp the words coming from this lady. "It's really ok," she says, "It's just a blob of tissue." But deep inside her heart, she knew that she shouldn't even be talking about this issue. She was starting to feel uncomfortable. She had thought they were going to understand. But, with growing uncertainty, she was realizing the problem at hand. They were pushing her to abort a life that she knew she shouldn't kill. She didn't want to do it, but she didn't know what to feel.

After the consultation, they wanted to make a return appointment for her. But, in her heart, she was most decidedly unsure. She told them she would think about it. "This whole thing," she said, "is so scary and new." "Don't worry," they said, "we know what's best and we are here for you."

As she stepped out the door, wondering what they really meant, she wondered where all the protestors went. She shrugged her shoulders and decided to go home. As she drove, tears filled her eyes, "I feel so all alone!" She decided to stop at her friend's house, "Maybe she'll have some advice for me." She didn't know if her friend would be home, but she decided to go and see.

She went to her friend's house to talk things out. It was then that she learned something she had not known about. Her friend said that, like her, she had had a choice to make. But, unfortunately for her, she had a different fate. "I too went to Planned Parenthood," her friend said. "They convinced me to abort my child, and now, my baby's dead. I wish I hadn't done it. If only I had known! There are people that could have truly helped me. I wouldn't have had to go through it alone. I was deceived by their agenda, and taken in by all the lies. They make things look so easy, and they have a clever disguise. But since then, I have learned, that God provides a better way. You don't have to suffer like I did. Choose LIFE for yourself, and your child, today! You'll be sorry if you don't, because the pain is so intense. It will break your heart and scar you deeply. It's a pain that's most immense! Since then, I have accepted Christ and asked forgiveness for my sins. If you really want a solution, let's just go to Him!"

As they bowed their heads and prayed, something amazing occurred! It was then, in that moment, that she thought she heard a spoken word. As she prayed for the Lord to come into her heart, and help her know what to do, she felt a tug within her heart and a still small voice say, "I love you." A peace began to grow deep inside her heart and her fears seemed to melt away. The tears flowed down as she began experiencing her "rebirth" day.

The next day, she and her friend, went to the clinic - their minds made up for "life." The clinic was open, and ready to help her shoulder the burden of her strife. "We love you and we're here for you. We'll help you as much as we can. Our funds aren't much but we always try hard to lend a helping hand." Their reassurance brought her peace. She knew everything would be alright.

More stories could have endings like this if more people would hear her plight. We need to help shoulder the burdens. We need to care enough to be a voice. We need to be there to help and tell them that "Life" is the only choice! We do that by providing counsel. We do that by providing aid. Pro-life organizations and CPCs need our help!! Just think of the lives you'll help save! Share your hearts and share your wealth. Show the people in these situations that you care for their lives and health. Pour out your hearts to God; and offer up your prayers. Let's rally for life and show the world, that GOD'S CHURCH REALLY CARES!



Pledged Donation Challenge!

1. New York

2. Indiana

3. California

4. South Carolina

5. Arizona, Canada, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia

6. West Virginia

7. Florida



The Three Week Prayer Pledge Challenge!

1. Pennsylvania - 3 People

2. Indiana and Tennessee - 2 People Each

3. Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, and Oklahoma - 1 Person Each

14 Prayer Warriors (So Far!)



Miscellaneous Pledge Challenge!

Indiana - five baby blankets, crib bedding, and a crib

New York - donation of the book "Beyond Morning Sickness: Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum", pledge of video conversion services (so everyone can see video of the walk!!)

Oklahoma - donations of SPECIAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRTS for my children and I to wear on the walk! (Don't worry. You'll get to see them! I will be taking LOTS of pictures and video!)



19 of 50 States Currently Contributing!

1. Alabama

2. Arizona

3. California

4. Florida

5. Illinois

6. Indiana

7. Iowa

8. Michigan

9. Mississippi

10. New Jersey

11. New York

12. Ohio

13. Oklahoma

14. Oregon

15. Pennsylvania

16. South Carolina

17. Tennessee

18. Virginia

19. West Virginia

PLUS CANADA AND WASHINGTON D.C.! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO PRAYED FOR MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER!!! I have an AWESOME update!!

I was informed that she MADE IT THROUGH THE SURGERY and that it was shorter than expected. Apparently, it only took an hour and she is ICU. They expect her to be able to get up tomorrow and that eventually, she might even be in BETTER shape than she was before!! :) PRAISE THE LORD!!

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!!! GOD IS AWESOME!! I pray that this whole circumstance, while "negative" in nature, will work out for the good God promises us in Romans 8:28. I pray that it will strengthen the faith of my family and that it will further compell them to seek the Lord as they marvel at His awesome miracles that He has given us!! God is GOOD ALL THE TIME and ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!! :) THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!  

Hello everyone. I have an emergency prayer request…

I just received word that my 96 year old grandmother has fallen again. This time, she broke the ball of her hip. She is going to have emergency surgery today. She is in SO MUCH PAIN.

This has been a hard week for everyone. She had finally apologized to many members of the family for being so bitter and resentful. She hadn’t been talking to anyone much and she really snapped at my aunt for putting her in nursing care. My grandma may be 96, but she has always had a young and stubborn heart. Even at this age and stage of her life, she has stubbornly tried to refuse help even though she is way beyond trying to do things on her own. In fact, that was the reason she has fallen again. She refused to call on a nurse to help her get to the restroom, and when they went to check on her, she was in the bathroom, on the floor, crying.

The doctor told her she could either have the surgery or be a bed patient for the rest of her life. Of course, my grandma wouldn’t have that, so she elected to have the surgery. She even remarked that if she was going to die, it was about as good a way to go as any. I sure wish she wouldn’t talk like that.

Anyways, please pray for my grandmother today. She will be having surgery at any time now. Please, also pray for my family. Many of them have been through the ringer; emotionally and physically. Pray for their healing and for rest. We are all having a difficult time. Plus, my mom is sick and has been in bed for days with the flu. Satan sure loves to torment, but I know the Great Physician and Almighty Healer. Pray for Him to come to our aid in the way we need it most. God bless you, and thank you!  

I have a friend who directed me to a blog page that talks about the vitality of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and people who care enough to reach out to women in turmoil. The following blog is about a baby that was SAVED:

 

http://thesiclecell.blogspot.com/2003/08/without-further-ado.html

 

Also, click here to see a video of the mother and child whose lives were spared from the pain of abortion. :)

 

 

THIS is why we do what we do! THIS IS WHY I STAND FOR LIFE!! Keep the pledges coming, everyone!! GOD BLESS YOU!! WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!! 

Hey everyone!! :)

I have an update for all of you!! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has pledged for the walk for life on Saturday, September 15, 2007. It is now only THREE WEEKS AWAY!! I cannot wait!! :) I am so excited to be doing this!!

With that being said, there is still plenty of time left to pledge; if you have not already (or if you already have and wish you had pledged more!). All you have to do is send me a message with your name, address, and dollar amount. Then, after the walk, you will receive a form in the mail from the Crisis Pregnancy Center so you can turn in your pledge. Or, if you want them to save a stamp, you can send your donation to me and I will take it with me to the walk.

I praise the Lord for all of you who have been so caring!! Thank you for your support!! So, I have an update for you on my 50 State (and beyond!) challenge!! I am also adding a little bit more to it. In addition to pledging dollar amounts, I would like to offer more ways that you can pledge support. For those of you who are unable to donate (or even if you have) you can "pledge" your prayers!! So, I will have different leader boards for the different kinds of pledges! I will have the regular pledge leader board, a prayer leader board, and a miscellaneous leader board (for those of you donating baby items to the center, or other different kinds of gifts pertaining to this event). You are welcome to pledge in any or all of these three areas! :) I will post results by state. The regular pledge board will list the states who have pledged the most money (though I will not post the actual dollar amount until after the walk). The prayer leader board will show how many people from each state have pledged to pray AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FOR THESE THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE WALK. (Of course, one is encouraged to pray regularly even after the walk for these things). Please pray for the following areas:

1. PRAY FOR AN END TO ABORTION!

2. Pray for healing for those who have had an abortion; and for all of the people who have been affected by it.

3. Pray for the crisis pregnancy center and walk for life (and for events, organizations, and centers like this nation/worldwide) that they would have the resources they need to keep operating and fighting for life!

4. Pray for our pro-life leaders (and thank God for people like Mike Pence) who are currently fighting on behalf of pre-born babies everywhere. ESPECIALLY pray for those who do not and ask God to change their hearts and that the truth would be revealed to them.

5. Pray for this nation and the hearts of its people; and for all who are eligible to vote. Abortion will end a lot sooner if we elect those who protect life. (If you haven't already done so, promise to yourself, and to God, to only vote for pro-life candidates). Also, pray that more pro-life people will run for election and for more pro-life judges in the Supreme Court.

6. Pray for Hollywood and the media; for a change of heart, truth in reporting, and for their pro-choice biases to come to a stop!

7. PRAY FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND FOR ABORTION CLINICS EVERYWHERE!!

Just so you know, you do not have to pray long prayers. Even if you only have five minutes, your prayers will still be heard. Prayer is all about the heart; not the words. Jesus fills in the gaps. Even if you just whole heartedly read through these requests once a day for three weeks, God will hear those prayers! :) Also, please check out www.monthlycallforlife.com and sign up to make a difference! It is a ONCE A MONTH commitment to rally for life. Surely everyone can take time to do this ONCE A MONTH? Think about how much of a difference we could make if we were ALL PARTICIPATING!!

Ok, without any further delay, here are the leader boards!! :)

Pledged Donation Challenge!

1. New York

2. Indiana

(Aw, come on my fellow Hoosiers! LOL)

3. California

4. South Carolina

5. Arizona, Canada, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia

6. West Virginia

7. Florida

The Three Week Prayer Pledge Challenge! (Brand new challenge!)

Indiana

- 1 person (that would be me! LOL)

Miscellaneous Pledge Challenge! (Brand new challenge!)

Indiana - five baby blankets, and a crib

Oklahoma

- donations of SPECIAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRTS for my children and I to wear on the walk! J (Do not worry. I will take LOTS of pictures!)

Well, that is all I have for you right now!! If your state is not on the list or is lagging behind, you know what to do!! Rally your friends to help too!! Let us show this small but deserving CPC how much we care and that God’s faithful people stand behind them - people from all over the nation and the world!

Thank you everyone for all you have done (and will do!). J I am sure I have more people wanting to pledge; especially in the area of prayers. There are LOTS of prayer warriors out there! PRAISE THE LORD! Many have already told me that they would be praying, but I just listed myself as the only one right now until I get confirmations from people that they will be praying every day for the three weeks leading up to the walk! J You can pledge your prayers at any time; even if you happen to read this a day before the walk and want to pledge.

Send me your pledges!! J Make sure you put “CPC Pledge” in your subject line. In your message, don’t forget your name, address, and pledge amount if it is a donation. Let me know if you will be praying, or if you would like to donate any baby items so I can have an overstuffed van full of goodies for the clinic. J GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU FOR CARING!!!! WE CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

P.S. Does anyone know how I can videotape the events of the walk so I can upload and share it later? I only have a regular video camera. It is not a DVD camcorder. If anyone can tell me how to convert a regular video tape to a DVD, or how to upload it to the internet, I would appreciate any tips I can get! Otherwise, the only thing I will have to share is pictures; though I will still videotape the events - even if it is for my own home viewing. 

Picture this:

It's an ordinary day. You are going to Wal-Mart. You arrive and proceed to pull into a parking space. Suddenly, seemingly out of no where, a car pops up behind you and starts honking their horn. Terrified, you remain frozen at the wheel; wondering what has just happened. You considering backing out, but the car is blocking your exit. So, you just sit there.

Then, an angry woman comes up to your window and screams at you. Thankfully, your mother always told you to keep the doors locked so a psycho couldn't get in. You are so thankful that something your mother said has paid off for you; but all the while wishing that a crazy window banging psycho would have been the least of the things you would have had  to worry about from your mother's advice.

Thinking quickly, you grab your cell-phone. Praise the Lord for the age of technology! You call your husband and ask him what to do. He wisely advises you to stay in your car and call the police. All the while, the raving banchee is screaming at you and you are scared out of your wits.

Finally, the police arrive. Now that he's there, you can roll your window down and find out what the problem is. Much to your surprise, you find out the reason for all the fuss is because you "took" someone's parking space that they believed you deliberately and visciously robbed from them!!!

Such was the case of my very sweet friend (whom I will just refer to as my hero). This brave hero, much like us, was attacked from behind by a fierce accuser. She was the target of senseless rage and fury, but remained calm and reacted appropriately. So many people, when faced with the accusing nature of Satan (or other people that aggravate and provoke) respond negatively and "fight back" in their flesh. This was not the case of my hero. ;) She told me that she DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT HER!! She ignored the crazy maniac, didn't fight back or mirror the rage, and CALLED FOR HELP!!

What a powerful example!!! When we are faced with negative situations, what do we often do? We get defensive, fight back, and keep the fires burning with our own negative reactions. Then, things REALLY escalate, and it starts a chain reaction of further pain and consequences.

What we SHOULD do when faced with difficulty is what my hero did. She operated with grace and class. She didn't listen to the shrieks of the enemy. She, instead, turned to the one who could combat her adversary. THAT is how we need to deal with conflict!! When we are bombarded by the enemy, we need to close our ears and turn our back to his negativity and condemnation and "call" the Father. He will come to our rescue and drive away the enemy. He will reassure us, fight for us, and protect us from the battle raging against us.

My hero even acted more bravely than that! The officer assured her that she did nothing wrong and that the harrassment of that woman was illegal and wrong. She was told that he would stay right there with her vehicle to prevent the woman from vandalizing it (or who knows what!). *Gee, what a tragic WASTE of the officer's time because of a PARKING SPACE!!* He told her to go in and do her planned shopping, and that the enemy would be watched like a hawk.

My hero BRAVELY kept the parking space that she had every right to have. She BOLDLY spat in the face of the enemy by refusing to be mastered by fear. She did her shopping, came back to her car, and left.

This story spoke so many things to me! It spoke of the power of God to help us in our most heated moments. Satan cannnot survive in the presence of God!! Just as that woman was disarmed of any case she had against my hero, so is Satan disarmed by Jesus when he attempts to accuse the children of God who are under the blood of Jesus! Should my hero have chosen to battle the enemy on her own turf, there would have been MAJOR problems. The enemy could have, (and probably would have) torn her to pieces! Instead, she submitted and surrendered to the fact that she couldn't (and shouldn't) fight the enemy alone. She called for help, and help came! Satan is no big deal when you KNOW you got someone GREATER and BIGGER!! That woman was put in her place when the police got there. Just like God puts Satan in HIS place. ;) With all that awesome power and authority at our disposal, shouldn't we be more than willingly to quickly call that power to our side??!!

One final thing that I would like to point out is this: Satan (and people too) will attack you about all sorts of things - even when you are blameless and not guilty!! We must stick to our principles and cling to what is right. We need not give any credibility or attention to Satan by fighting to defend ourselves when we are not in the wrong to begin with. Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1) No matter what petty and senseless tactic anyone uses against you, it has no power over you if you are a child of God!

With that being said, let's all try to be like my hero, and not the lunatic! There are more things worthy of being angry about. The injustice of not getting a parking space we so selfishly think we are entitled to is NOTHING compared to the justice that innocent preborn babies are robbed of EVERY DAY!!! And that is only ONE example!! Think of world hunger, poverty, corruption, etc. Aren't those things more worthy of getting angry about? Aren't those better thing most worthy of action? Anger isn't a bad thing; it's HOW you react to your anger that is the issue. Ephesians 4:26 says: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" If you're angry over true injustice, and not petty garbage, like this woman, your anger can move you to righteous action and involvement over things worth fighting for! My anger over the tragedy of abortion moves me to action. Righteous and moral anger can be a good thing if we react in love.

So, in closing, I would just like to reinforce the two main principles of this story: 1. Call on Jesus when you are in need. Don't foolishly think you can fight the devil in the flesh. 2. Evaluate your anger. If it is out of selfishness and fruits of the sinful nature, let go of it and move on. Don't give the devil a foothold! Don't stress about the petty crap of this world. However, if your anger is because of true injustice, go ahead and be a "lunatic" for righteousness AND FIGHT LIKE MAD FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!!! A CAUSE WORTH FIGHTING FOR IS A CAUSE WORTH DYING FOR!! I would die for Christ; I wouldn't die for a parking space!!! ;)  

First of all, I would like to thank all of the people who have pledged, donated, and offered their prayers to support this walk for life for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Your support means SO MUCH TO ME and I know it will mean so much MORE to them!!

In fact, that is why I am posting this update. Today, I went to pick up more pledge forms because I have well exceeded the blanks on my first form. (THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN!!) I am doing my best to keep this momentum going and will keep taking pledges up until the day of the walk. So, if you have not pledged (and would like to) it is not too late!

Anyways, the update is this:

I went to the center to pick up more forms. The women who help run that center were delighted that I had come today because they said they were a little discouraged that they haven't received as many registrants as in years past. They expressed to me that coming in today was just the encouragement they needed and that the Lord knew it was just what would lift them up.

They also told me that when they started the center, they started it with NO DEBT because of generous people who helped make that center possible! The building was renovated, the furniture was donated, and people just poured out their hearts to help get that center started in that small community. It was so touching to hear.

That is why I am more motivated than ever to raise more funds for them. I have already raised quite a bit; thanks to all of you and the generous pledges and MATCHES of my generous donor (who will remain anonymous). This little center deserves all the love, support, and prayers that we can give it! And, even though the amount I have currently raised is a lot, we could ALWAYS raise more!! There is no limit!! Let us show them just how FAITHFUL God's people are and just how much LOVE and DEDICATION there is for pro-life causes! Let us overwhelm their hearts with blessing!!

I know there are many of you who cannot donate. That is fine. I do not ask anyone to give if they are unable. Although, whether rich or poor, we can certainly all give our prayers at the very least! So, if anything else, pledge your prayers!!

I am still open to forming a team if any of my friends and church members would like to help. :) If anyone is interested in raising funds and walking with me, please let me know.

One final challenge that I am posting out there is this. I have gotten pledges from states everywhere around the nation! I have even gotten a pledge from Canada! So, I propose this: let us get a pledge from EVERY STATE (including the District of Columbia). I am also extending this to every country and nation. So far, we have pledges from these areas:

Arizona

California

Canada

Florida

Indiana

New Jersey

New York

Oregon

South Carolina

Virginia

West Virginia

Is your state up there? :) If not, you can put it on the map with your pledge. I will also update everyon on which state is leading. I will not post dollar amounts in any of my updates until after the walk, because I do not want anyone to see it and think that the amount is "good enough." When it comes to loving and caring for others, generosity should know no bounds!! :) So, I will not hinder the process by posting dollar amounts. I will only tell which state is in the lead. So far, New York is in the lead (thanks to my generous donor). Now, I am SO GRATEFUL for his support, but that does not mean that I am not up for a little friendly competition with my dear yankee friend. LOL Wouldn't it be GREAT if we could "out give" him? He he. And, what better reward than helping an organization that REALLY needs it?!! Let's do it Indiana! We are in second place. Not to say that you other states don't have a chance. ;) Let's give our hearts out!!!!

Let us show this center that the WHOLE NATION stands behind them!! Let us have a representative from every state!! I am excited to see how this turns out!! God bless you all and thank you for your support! :)  

Today, at church, Kent touched on the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." We have been going through each commandment, and I was enthused when I walked into church today and saw "The Sacred Life" as the title on the media screen. Of course, it's hard to talk about every single thing that he preached, but I'll talk about some of the main things.

He said there were two divine principles behind the prohibition of the sixth commandment: Life is sacred; love is the bottom line. Those principles have to stick together! Life and love are entertwined. If you respect life, you are living in love. If you living in love, you respect life.

He defined murder as "taking human life when it is not God's Will." He also laid this out:

A Guide for Ethical Conduct:

"Do not Murder" covers any and all killing of human beings, orchestrated by human beings, which is born out of anger, bitterness, fear, greed, lust, revenge, or selfisheness.

Now THAT is putting it into perspective! Think about it. All those things mentioned are the very causes of murder. Those are the motives that drive a person and/or society to kill. And, all of those root causes are sin and are NOT fruits of the Spirit, but of the sinful nature.

Therefore, the sixth commandment covers:

1. The death penalty

2. Abortion

3. Euthanasia and Suicide

4. War

Kent admitted that he still wasn't sure how to answer and approach all of those issues. He was in Vietnam as a non-combatant. He didn't want to be one that killed, but he helped others in the fight to do their job that included killing. As far as war goes, I don't know how to feel about that one. I mean, I would prefer not to have wars. It would be nice if we could all get along and quit going to war. However, does that mean we should have no defense if someone attacks us? Of course, he did mention that there is a lot of stuff going on in Iraq, as well as any other war ever fought, that have nothing to do with the war itself and there are killings happening that aren't even related to "the war." He's probably right, because they did mention soldiers storming a house and killing innocent civilians.

Anyways, I won't get into the whole war aspect of it. That's one of the things I just don't understand. Basically, I just think we should avoid it at all costs, but protect ourselves when necessary. Just as we would if someone would peronally attack us. We have every right to fight back and protect ourselves.

The death penalty is one that I don't know how to feel about either, though I did come closer to understanding today. Kent talked about how having the death penalty basically communicates the fact that a person is beyond redemption and a second chance. He said it's just as much of a punishment to have life without parole. Killing the person who killed really doesn't even the score so much; especially when one sits on death row for years. He mentioned that with John Wilkes Booth, he was killed quickly after he had assasinated President Lincoln. If the death penalty is to be of any effect anyways, it needs to be swift in delivering the consequences; just like when you spank or discipline your child. You don't punish your child for something he did several days later; you punish them the second they misbehave so they can be corrected the moment they commit the wrong.

He also made another point. To give the death penalty is to basically say that a person is beyond forgiveness and restoration. When, in fact, second chance are what God is all about. Just look at the people of the Bible. We have Moses, King David, Paul, and many others. All took part in the murdering of others. Yet, God called them out on it, dealt with them, forgave them for their sin, and restored them and used them for the Kingdom.

I know in the Old Testament it said "eye for an eye." But, Jesus answered that by saying, "turn the other cheek." Not to say that one should go unpunished, but basically to forgive. Life without parole certainly seems better, so they have all that time to think about what they did. Also, to have time to be repentant and hopefully turn their life over to Christ and be forgiven.

Well, that's all I'm going to say about that one too. But, the one that I am absolutely clear cut on is euthanasia, suicide, and abortion. That is an instance where we should always respect life and not take it into our own hands. Kent described how hard it was to watch his mother die of cancer, but because they loved her, they respected her life and that God would take her in HIS time; not theirs. That's how I have to feel about my great-grandmother. She is 96 years old, and it's hard to watch her decline so rapidly all of a sudden. But, I know that she will be taken home in God's time; not ours. Her life is worth living every moment that she breathes because every moment she has on earth is a moment that God planned and ordained. To snuff it out would be wrong.

The same goes for suicide. Of course, I'm sure we have all had moments where we wished we weren't alive or that we could "go home." I know I have; MANY TIMES! But, I have always known that my life wasn't mine to take. Who am I to say that, "I'm done here." Only God knows that, and I will NOT leave this earth until the purpose to which I was called is completed. God SAVED my life by Jesus giving HIS and I will HONOR that by LIVING the LIFE that HE gave me!!

That brings us to abortion. Just like the other issues, we don't have the right to kill another life. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" and God knew us before we were even conceived and predestined us for good things. Of course, there are those that would say, "it's our bodies." Sure, your body is your body, but the body you're aborting isn't YOUR BODY it's someone ELSE'S body. We all have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That INCLUDES those not yet born. Kent said that statistics were over 90 percent that abortion was most often done for reasons other than rape, incest, or health of the mother. Most do it because of "inconvience" which points back to the original motives for murder mentioned; anger, bitterness, fear, greed, lust, revenge, or selfishness. Most often times, abortion is made out of fear and selfishness, however, I think a lot are done out of ignorance. Many women just don't know what they are doing. Some, like a friend of mine, were raped and they do it out of fear. But, they have a lot of regret afterward. Thankfully, they are not beyond forgiveness and restoration. Thankfully, there is Christ; the healer of the broken hearted and His blood covers all wrongs. :)

That is why we must protect life. That is especially why we need to revere life as sacred so "murder" doesn't happen and people are PROTECTED! That should be our highest aim! We wouldn't have women getting abortions if we had been there to protect them from this tragedy in the first place. Our nation failed to protect its people when we allowed Roe Vs. Wade to happen. Now, everyone pays the price. But, it is NEVER too late to do what's right! We can right the wrong and prevent other women from having abortions out of fear and BE THERE FOR THEM to give them REAL HELP AND AID!!

That is one of the many reasons I am doing this walk for life and raising money for the local crisis pregnancy center. These women and families need alternatives to abortion. It's one thing to say, "don't have an abortion" but then do nothing to help them with an alternative. If we want to help them choose life, we need to make it easier for them by educating them, loving them, providing for them (time, money, donations, etc.), and by NOT judging them. We need to PRAY FOR THEM and bear their burdens and be a shoulder to cry on and lean on. That's what LOVE does. THAT is the BIGGEST step we can take to help end abortion. We people see that others will come to their aid, abortion will no longer be a first-thought and less and less people will support "choice" when they know that love is on their side to get them through it. Then, abortion will go out of business on its own and the law will be even easier to overturn when killing is no longer profitable. So, if you still want to be part of touching hearts and driving a blow to Satan and his culture of death, please consider sending me a message with your pledge.

I'll wind up with Kent's final notes. He said we need to embrace the practice of reconciliation; person to person, class with class, church with church. Love has to win out everywhere. To combat murders and killings of every kind, we got to have healing and restoration everywhere; in our homes, churches, jobs, ethnic groups, nations, etc. Let's be part of the solution and not part of the problem!

I'm not one to promote a secular band, but this does have a message and one that the church showed us today. It inspired me and it should inspire us all to work together so love can win out. Click on this link to watch this music video "If Everyone Cared"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-QfLJbEN3k 

God bless you my friends!! Keep on loving!! :)  

I have an amazing post for you today!! :)

You might have read my previous post where I asked for pledges for the crisis pregnancy center in my area for the walk for life I'm doing September 15th. Well, I have a great update for all of you!! So far, I raised $105.00! But, the blessings don't stop there!! God has graciously arranged for a very special new friend to cross my path, and he has made a VERY generous donation of $500.00! Can somebody say AMEN?! :) That's a lot of money to help out mothers, babies, and families!! This is a big start to save a lot of lives!

BUT WAIT!! HOLD ON!! It doesn't stop there!!! This anonymous donor pledged to double the first hundred dollars I have raised and said he will TRIPLE the next one hundred! So, that means in addition to the first five hundred he has given, he will be giving another two hundred for the first one hundred I raised and and extra three hundred dollars if I can get one hundred dollars more. That means he will have given a total of $1,000 dollars - plus my donations from all of you!! :) Can somebody say AMEN?!!! :)

Ok, now I am waiting on YOU GUYS!!! :) Do I have any pledgers out there? Going once, going twice......... PLEDGED!! :) How many people out there do we have that care? Any pledge is welcome; from five, to ten, to twenty, or whatever God lays on your heart! Don't feel that any gift is too small or not significant. God will take your "little" and turn it into a "LOT!" Just remember the loaves of bread and fish that Jesus blessed and used to feed the thousands! It's not the size of your gift itself; it's the size of your heart and the manner in which your gift is given. God will take it, bless it, and multiply it!

So, let's raise another hundred dollars and beyond!! Send me a message with your name, address, and pledge amount. Then, I will turn it in at the walk on September 15th and you will receive a form in the mail to send your donation to the pregnancy center.

I thank you in advance for supporting me in this walk, and the pregnancy center. I thank the loyal and kind friends and family of mine that have already donated and pray that God's blessings will be upon you. Thank you so much and thank you to everyone else who will contact me with their pledges!! :) We are saving lives together!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!  

I just found out that September 15th, there is going to be a walk for life/fundraiser for a local Crisis Pregnancy Clinic in my area.
 
Anyways, I am going to be doing the walk. So, I need sponsors. I don't even have to collect money.  All they want is your pledge amount and address and they will send you a form when I turn in the information at the walk on Sept. 15 (so, you can pledge NOW and have time to save up the money to PAY THEM LATER. Could you sacrifice the money you would spend on a dinner out, or a new "something" or other to help? ). Then, you will get notification in the mail to send in your pledged amount.
 
Sound good? Great!! So, if you would like to sponsor me and this walk for life, please send me a private message ASAP and say that you will - and give me your address as well as the dollar amount you will be pledging so I can record it on my sheet. Any amount will help! From 5 to 15 to 20....30, 40, or whatever God lays on your heart. All the money goes to keep this center running and to provide counselling, services, and to help mothers, families, and babies, all the while protecting and caring for life with Christian values being the driving force.

Your gift is also tax deductible. Thanks in advance for helping me out and being so supportive!! Remember, you are not giving me money directly; only your address and pledge amount! And, I PROMISE that I will not share your address with anyone or use it for any other purpose other than to turn in for them to mail your donation form to you!  God bless you!!  

This forward has been on my mind and amazingly (though not coincidence I'm sure!) it resurfaced in my inbox again! I am very grateful to the person that "happened" to forward it to me (and you know who you are!). I'm glad that it found it's way into my inbox again, because I wanted to share it. Someone out there needs to read this today:

DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for< BR>the ministry. Steve was po pular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. "How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in min d and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it?I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.

When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?" Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?" Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?" <FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?" Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them." Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then." Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look! this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down . You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "No." Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get the push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Chris tianson went on to the next pe rson and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?" Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr.Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come." Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?" Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut" Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do yo u want a donut?" Jason, new to t he room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut." "Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?" Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you." Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-up s so that Linda can have a d onut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?" Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do te n push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully c omprehend all the riches of grac e and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?" Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate salvation in a very special way.  

God never ceases to amaze me! Just as I was about to compose this blog with something that touched my heart today, I read my friend's blog about how she was being touched. I knew it was in part because of the prayers that I pray for her. I am thankful that God is working in her life. I was also stunned to see that she was listening to the very artist whose song lyrics I was about to post. I just got a cd by Krystal Myers and her song "The Way to Begin" really touched me, and I wanted to share the lyrics:

The Way to Begin

By Krystal Meyers

Dear God
It's me again down here
Don't wanna sound insincere
I'm lost
Sometimes you're so unclear
What can I do?
I'm feeling so far from you
Frustrated
Irritated
Disconnected from it all
The weight of the world
Has pushed me to the wall
I surrender
To you I'm giving in
Come take me
Save me
I want to start again
I'll open my broken heart
'Cause I've reached the end and
You are the way to begin
I've seen a million empty smiles
Living in denial
I don't wanna live like that
When nothing's real
I hate how it is to feel
Frustrated
Irritated
Disconnected from it all
I'm breaking
I'm aching for something beautiful
All the riches in this world
Couldn't fill this great big hole
It takes something so much more
Only you can take me
You can make me whole
 

Well, we just finished watching "The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King." I must say that this was probably my favorite. Probably because I love to see resolutions to conflict and a good ending. Watching these three movies was an enlightening experience, though this wasn't typically my kind of movie (and I probably won't watch it again any time soon - if ever).

Anyways, the movie opened with Speagol and his brother fighting over the ring that his brother found in the water. From the very start Speagol was overtaken by it, and choked his brother to death just to have it for himself. He had the ring for so much time, but had nothing or no one else. He turned very ugly and the ring destroyed him from the inside out. It became his obsession and the sole reason for his existence which just wasted his life away. What a shame! Think of what else he could have done with his life had he not been so focused on himself and his obsession!

All through the movie, Speagol/Gollum led Frodo and Sam towards Mordor. He even devised a plan of how he would lead them to their death and take back his "precious." Sam, the dear friend he was, kept warning Frodo not to trust him. But, Frodo insisted that they needed him to guide them. Indeed, they did need a guide, but Sam knew enough not to trust him completely. So often, our TRUE FRIENDS see things that we don't see. They stick to us even closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24) and they genuinely care for our welfare. We shouldn't let go of true friends such as this; especially not for half-hearted "friends" that we just met whose sole purpose may be to deceive us. That was the mistake Frodo made. He listened to the lies and deceit of Gollum who tried to make Frodo think that SAM was the enemy. So, Frodo ended up pushing Sam away and told him to leave him alone. Sam was heartbroken, and he left him alone for a while, but his love for "Mr. Frodo" as he always called him, was greater than any self-pity or feelings of anger and hurt. He knew Frodo would need him, so he went after him.

Meanwhile, war was being waged against Gondor. Once again, we find we have another king who fails to be a good leader when it counts and all he does is cling to pride and vain ambition. Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor and his character has always impressed me. He may not have taken his place as a king, (at first) but he certainly always conducted himself as one. He always led by example. He encouraged his people, did his best to protect them, and always fought honorably and courageously. He always kept a positive attitude and he always tried to bond people together in unity. He tirelessly worked to accomplish each task and he just kept on persevering. Now THAT is leadership! THAT is a king and that's the kind of leadership that people stand by. His friends were always there for him; unlike this other king who blindly sat in his castle while the battle raged.

So, just seeing the character contrast, I just got to thinking about this one question: which king are you? Are you a king who is active in the battles and are out there fighting for what is good? Are you uniting people? Are you putting your all into it? Are you seeking to fulfill your purpose? Or, are you just a king who is in it for your own pleasure; life is just about your own power, control, and vain ambition. I'll tell you what, being the "king of your castle" may be fun and great, but what do you really have? You don't have any real friends and face it, if you are THAT kind of king, NOBODY LIKES YOU!! YOU ARE THE VILLIAN! YOU ARE A TYRANT!! YOU WILL BE DETHRONED!! PRIDE WILL ALWAYS DO THAT!

We must all strive to be a king like Aragorn. I especially loved how he never gave up hope; even when there were those that thought that they didn't have a chance or that Frodo surely must be dead and it was all over. He continued to have faith and believe. He continued to fight. It's not over until it's over. If you're going to go down, go down fighting. That was the way he lived, and that is how he united and motivated his men. His perseverance and leadership is what helped Frodo succeed.

So, getting back to Frodo, he had gotten himself into a lot of trouble by listening to Gollum. Anyone who has seen the movie knows all the details, but even if you haven't seen it, I won't get into it all. I will just wind it up by saying that Sam found him and he continued to go all the way. Sam was always there motivating and pushing him to finish the task. WHAT A FRIEND!!! And my FAVORITE part was when they got to end where they were to destroy the ring. Frodo could barely go on, but Sam stayed true and told him that while he couldn't carry his burden for him, he could certainly carry HIM. So, he picked up his friend, and carried him the rest of the way. I just thought that was the "golden" moment of the whole movie. It warmed my heart because Sam wasn't even one that should have been on the mission in the first place, yet, there he was and look at how far he has come and all he has done for the love of a friend! He shared in his sufferings and helped bear the burden, and watched his back. He still loved him and remained loyal to him, even when Frodo pushed him away or hurt his feelings. He even took on Gollum who resurfaced at the end to once again try and take his "precious."

As they got to the fiery lava pool, he urged Frodo to toss it in. But, Frodo was too overcome and couldn't do it. He claimed the ring for his own and put it on and disappeared. Gollum who STILL managed to pursue them (even after countless jabs and injuries) could see Frodo's footprints and managed to jump on him and bite his finger and take the ring. He rejoiced and couldn't think of anything else; not even when he was literally pushed off the edge. He STILL couldn't think of anything else but that ring - even when he was suffering to death in the lava - he was still calling for it and trying to hold onto it!! How sad!! How much richer his life could have been had he pursued something WORTH pursuig and spent his energy and life on something worthwhile and not something that ultimately took his life!!!

Of course, Sam could have just walked away from all this, but he didn't. He CHOSE to stay. He CHOSE to save the friend he loved so much. But, he could only save him if Frodo allowed it. Frodo was dangling from the ledge and was barely hanging on. Sam urged Frodo NOT to let go, because he saw that Frodo had about given up hope of being "saved." But, Frodo decided to reach for Sam's hand; to ACCEPT that help and the aid that he was extending to him. So, Sam lifted him up and TOGETHER they ESCAPED DESTRUCTION. Then, they were rescued and taken away on eagle's wings. And, of course, the rest of the story ended well too with Aragorn taking his place as king and everything ended as it should have.

What about our happy endings? What character are we? Are we going to be a good king or a bad king? Gollum, or Sam? Are we going to be true friends, leaders, and conquerers, or are we going to be selfish, prideful, and obsessed until the day of our doom? What is valuable to you? Are you pursuing a "ring" or are you pursuing something good? Jesus said "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21. If your heart pursues friendship; fellowship; love; goodness; and things that are godly pursuits, your treasure will be of unmeasurable wealth. It will be a wealth of things that you often cannot even touch, but are of the highest value. However, if you pursue things out of pride, selfishness, obsession, vanity, and things of the flesh, you will find nothing but pain, anguish, destruction, and doom.

The choice is yours and is literally a choice of "life" and "death." Choose life! Choose what is good. Choose Christ and salvation, and you will receive so great a treasure; a treasure that no "ring" could ever bring you! Jesus Christ is our "Sam." He stays with us through thick and thin. He both cries and rejoices with us. He sticks around even when we push Him away. He is quick to forgive us when we run back to Him for help. His love is enduring and true and He helps us fight our battles as well as carry us when we can no longer go on. He never fails; He is always there. Can anyone ask for a better friend? Is He YOUR friend? Do you have Him in your corner? If you don't, I'd hate to be you, because without a friend like Jesus, you have no hope of being saved from the "rings" in your life. There will be no one to hold you back from the lake of fire if the only "friend" you have is Gollum and/or yourself. Put your trust in Jesus. He won't let you down!! God bless all who read this!!

Last night, we watched "The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers." I learned a lot from watching this movie as well.

Just like I mentioned previously about the first movie, the ring is all about temptation. We all have a "ring" that lures us and tempts us and it's hard to say "no" to. That is why the ring MUST be destroyed. That is the very objective of Frodo. That is why they are journeying to the fires of Modor to destroy the ring. But, the journey hasn't been easy. At one point, Frodo even wanted to go it alone because he didn't want anyone else to be hurt. In fact, the "fellowship" that they had has been scattered. At this point, they don't know whether some of their comrades are dead or alive.

There were a few things about this movie that really spoke to me. First was the fact that Frodo was obviously sinking more and more into the power of the ring and was losing himself more and more. His friend Sam could sense it. Frodo even told him at one point that he was glad Sam was with him, because he couldn't have made it that far without him. And to think he had wanted to go alone! Well, the fact is, NONE of us can face temptation alone! We all need people to help us and we need to accept that help because they can often see something that we can't. WE ALL NEED ACCOUNTABILITY!

The next thing that surprisingly touched me was when they finally encountered Gollum. Gollum was the creature (formerly a hobbit) who had possessed his "precious" ring. He is a perfect example of how temptation overtakes and rules you. He could think of nothing else. It was TORTUROUS to him, but he still chased after it. In the first movie, it was said of him that he both loved and hated the ring because he both loved and hated himself. Such is the fate of anyone who falls into a endless cycle of temptation and addiction. One who is addicted to food, drugs, alcohol, porn, or any kind of vice (insert pet sin here), both loves it and hates it. You don't want to be addicted, you HATE IT, but you can't seem to stop. You indulge in the sin, feel guilty, and then numb yourself with the same addiction and so it goes.... round and round.

Frodo allowed Gullum to guide them to Modor. He even began to have compassion on him for his sufferings. He saw how the ring had destroyed him. Frodo even remembered his real name: Smeagol. When he called Gullum by his rightful name, his eyes widened and he smiled. He remembered the joy of being called by his real name, and the ugliness seemed to start to melt away and he was softened. Frodo began calling him by his real name and just started treating him as a person; though Sam didn't think he "deserved" it and that he had alterior motives.

So many times, we deny help to those who need it because we don't trust that they really want it or that they are just using us. But, is that any reason to think they don't deserve it or need it? Sometimes, they are so destroyed by what rules them, they can't help but behave badly. They DESPERATELY need our help; even if they aren't acting like it. Love and kindness will break through. Frodo knew that, and that is why he continued to be nice, and also because it gave him his own hope for overcoming the effects of the ring.

Frodo grows weary of the "burden" that he bears. Sam tries to encourage him to persevere because no one ever imagines that they get to the point that they are, but they have to keep going. They just can't turn back; much like the other two hobbits who got separated from the group and considered just going back home. But, one of them said that there wouldn't likely be a home to go back to. Even if there was, they would eventually get caught up in the same conflict they were in already because the evil and the war was going to spread. To just stay in their comfort zone and "safe" little world would be most foolish. That's the same way all of need to look at things, because NO ONE is safe. We are all in the midst of a war of evil, temptation, and spiritual warfare. If we are going to wait until it comes to our doorstep to fight it, we are taking the wrong approach. We got to help each other with the battle, because we are all involved whether we want to be or not. We got to take up arms and help. We need to fight for what is good because "it's worth fighting for," Sam said. We need to fight and help each other; much like the elves did when helping the people of Rohan fight when they were cornered.  

That brings me to another point. The king of Rohan lived in denial of the upcoming war and didn't want to get involved. So, instead, he and the people fled to a fortress in the mountains. So, when the battle came to THEM they were cornered and had no further means of retreat. Even when everyone tried to tell him not to flee and to just stay and fight, he stood in his pride and refused. And, the more he realized his error, the more hard hearted he became. Even when they told him to send word for help and to get more people to fight, he refused and said that no one would want to help. So, they only had a few hundred people against THOUSANDS. Many of the people they had weren't even fit to fight and were too young, too old, or just too scared out of their minds to fight bravely.

Fortunately, the elves came to help. And, at the dawning, Gandolph and more reinforcements came to their aid. I think all of this stunned and humbled the king and made him feel foolish, and rightly so. "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - Matthew 23:12. Hold onto your pride, and you will end up being brought low and made to be a foolish example of how pride destroys you. The king's prideful attitude could have been so much more costly to his people had he not gotten the aid he refused to ask for. But, had he accepted help in the first place, things could have started and ended much better for everyone. As a leader and king, he ought not to have put his own pride before the welfare of others.

So, how is YOUR pride hurting others? How are our own stubborn refusals to accept help hurting the people you are most trying to protect? We shouldn't be like the stubborn king, or like Frodo and refuse help and accountability. We NEED the fellowship and counsel of others to be successful and victorious. We aren't in this alone! If we think our struggles and temptations don't pass down to others and affect their lives, we have been deceived. That is one of the reasons I decided to surrender my pride and lose weight. If I thought that my overeating and excessive weight would not impact my family or my children, I would have been making a costly error; not only for myself, but for them. Not only would I be punished, but so would they. I would be overweight, have health problems, lack of energy, etc. and be setting the example to my kids that this kind of behavior is ok. Then, they would follow in the footsteps of that poor leadership and be enslaved to the same bondage. I couldn't do that to myself, or to them, anymore. I was not going to hang onto pride and in so doing, pass on the curse of bondage.

I will be watching the final movie tonight, but until then, I'll be thinking about the vital lessons that I learned. I pray that they will all be things for us to ponder and take to heart. May we all humble ourselves to surrender in the areas of life that cripple us. May we hand those "rings" over to God and accept the help of others to get through it so our "rings" don't become a burden and death sentence to someone else. 

It's not like I don't know that there are strange people out there. I realize that there are lots of people who like to judge and condemn others. What surprises me, though, is that there are CHRISTIANS doing this to other CHRISTIANS!!! You have all heard of "When animals attack." Well, this is "When Christians attack!" What a way to drag God's name through the mud! It's shocking and disgusting!!

Not only have their been "ministries" persecuting my friend's GOOD ministry, but I have had a woman harrassing, condemning, and judging me over every little thing. It's just mind blowing that a woman who says she is a Christian would criticize a person for PRAYING against abortion, and for the very picture that is on my profile page on myspace. How sad that a person feels the need to tell someone they are stubborn and stupid for saying silent prayers for the unborn and to end abortion!! How sad that someone who says they are a Christian says such negative and ugly things to another Christian!! How sad it is that there are still Christians who value legalism more than the grace of God.

It wasn't too long ago that I had a lot of legalism in my life, so I know how this woman suffers and I have compassion on her. I will pray for her often and that she would be free from this bondage.

Legalism really is a hard yoke to bear. You go about weighing every little detail and are so obsessed with doing everything "right" and "pleasing" God that you become more concerned about works and somehow tryinjg to "earn" favor with God that it becomes all about you and your own self-righteousness. It's a strange irony that in trying so hard to please God, you are really DISPLEASING Him with the attitude of trying to be your own salvation and thinking that perfection better earns salvation.

Salvation isn't earned; it is freely given by Christ. Nothing we do or don't do adds or takes away from CHRIST'S sacrifice! That is what salvation is about; it's not about us, it's about HIM and what he did FOR us! Praise the Lord that we don't have to "earn" anything, because NONE of us would ever get there!! Is it no wonder that God gave us the new covenenat so that there would be a perfect blood sacrifice to cleanse our sins for all time? We are not under the yoke and bondage of fulfilling the "law" we are under GRACE!! The Bible says in Galatians 2:21: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."  And, Galatians 5:4 says: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

If we are still living under the "law" and being legalistic about everything, then Christ's sacrifice means nothing to us and we are fallen from grace because we think that our salvation depends on our own fulfillment of "the law" and "rules" and "restrictions" and doing everything "right." One is throwing the gift of God in Jesus' face and saying, "Nope, your word is a lie and you grace is not sufficient enough for me."

I decided I did not want to live that kind of life anymore. I never even realized for so long that that was what I was doing. I was just so worried that if I did something "wrong" I would be punished for it and God would be mad at me for any mistake (or others' mistakes if I didn't tell them that they were doing something horribly wrong). But, I have learned to let go and to let God be the Savior that HE is - NOT me! I know that "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." And ANYONE or ANYTHING that comes at me with spirit of condemnation and judgment is NOT of God!! God is a LOVING GOD!! SATAN is the one who hates, condemns, discourages, and lies. My life belongs to Christ!! I am IN Christ, and Christ lives in ME, and everything is covered under HIS BLOOD. Anything I have ever done, or will do, is taken care of by HIS sacrifice; not my own attempts to make myself "worthy." Which is not to say that "sin should abound" and that we shouldn't even try to do right. No. We should walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. But, when we DO sin (and we all do) Jesus blood covers those sins.

Praise the Lord that we don't have to confess to a priest and have him go into the holy of holies for us. That veil is torn and we all can go in and have a personal relationship with God because of the intercession of Jesus Christ! I pray with all of my heart that those who struggle with a yoke of bondage like legalism will realize that this needn't be the case anymore. I pray that their eyes would be opened, and that the reality of the truth of God's grace will deliver them from self-righteousness and lead them to repentance just as Christ did for me. I am not too proud to admit that I struggled with it, and I freely disclose it so others know that deliverance from strict legalistic "Judaizer" and "religious" behavior is not only probable but POSSIBLE!!!! It's all about GRACE!!

I pray that this woman, and all others suffering, would be delivered!! They really "know not what they do" and are deceived by the enemy. They need our prayers!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL! 

I got this in my inbox just last night. I was so moved and touched that this woman would share such a personal story with me and that she was so bold. I know that she is not alone, and I know at least a couple others of you that have shared her grief. She gave me permission to share it with more people and I think that it's something we should all read, empathize with, and pray for. God bless you all as you read.....

The Lost Child

April 1976.....

It's almost midnight and I am sitting in the bathroom wringing my hands and wiping away tears. I am waiting to see if my life is going to change or if I am going to keep on living the way I have been these last few months, wild and free, unstoppable and feeling undestructable.

When the timer goes off, I almost fall off the toilet from fear. I pick up my home test with shaking hands and look, but I cannot see; my brain won't let the reality of it sink in. I keep looking, but I am rejecting it. The color my brain denies is the haunting color of blue. I am willing that color to change, but it stubbornly refuses to turn pink. Blue: there it is, my life will surely not go on the way I have planned. I am barely sixteen years old and I am pregnant. Worse yet, I just ended my relationship with my boyfriend and have my eyes on another. My mind starts to yell, “What ya gonna do now...what ya gonna do now?”
“Shut up!” I scream at myself, “I don't know what I am going to do!" All I can do now is hide the test, go to bed, and pray.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a heart for the Lord. Tonight, I need answers and I pray, I beg, and I plead, but all the response is the condeming silence. I roll over, feeling that God is mad at me for this stupid mistake. I lay my hand gently on my tummy, give it a soft pat, and smile at the knowledge of the little life inside of me. At the break of dawn, my weary mind finally tires of fighting against itself and sleep closes my eyes.

I awake late in the afternoon and I sneak out of bed, trying not to face anyone. I am terrified that my words may betray me. I walk past my sister and mother with my head down, avoiding eyes and conversation. My mother is smarter than I give her credit for and she has this magical radar that picks up anything at any moment. It is hard to avoid her antenas of perception that are constantly bouncing in my direction. “Honey, have you started your period yet?” (She always keeps track of these embarressing milestones in my life.) “Yeah mom, last week.” It is too easy to lie and I'm feeling guilty. My mothers radar is still bouncing off of me and she will not shut it off completely. Something is stirring and she knows it. Mom goes into the bathroom and unwraps all my kotex pads in the waste basket. They give me up as the criminal I feel like, because of their cleanliness. Some how, I thought I was clever in my ripe old age of sixteen!

She comes out of the bathroom, her face is pale white with a sick expression, like she just got hit in the belly by a professional boxer. As she looks at me, I break down crying, feeling my shame envelope me. My mom is in shock but she still takes me into her arms and I sob, “I'm so sorry, mommy.”
After our initial shock and tears,we sit down with dad, which is harder than telling my mom. After all, I am daddy's little girl, his princess, as he calls me. I do not feel like a princess at the moment, but rather like one of her ragged servants.

I fight for this baby, because I want to feel this child grow and I want to give her life. But at sixteen, my life is not my own as I find out. I will not have this child, after all, it is not a baby yet, it is just a little piece of tissue and some cells, so I am told. When your sixteen, pregnant, scared, and are used to adults making all of your decisions, it is hard not to believe them so I put my total trust and life into their hands. I handed over my life and the life of my child. Calls are made, appointments are set up with decisions made in a whirlwind of two days. I do not have much time left with this baby, I have to say goodbye soon. I am up almost all night before my little “problem” gets fixed and I write a letter to her ( I feel that it is a girl) explaining why I cannot keep her and saying my goodbyes. I cry all night, patting and rubbing my tummy, talking to a child who cannot and who will never hear my voice. The morning rushes in quickly and even though the sun is shining, there is a dark, stormy cloud over me and it is pouring on my emotions. I refuse to get up! My parents have no sympathy for me on this bright, beautiful day, there is a job to be done, a problem to be taken care of, a life to end.

We drive for an hour in silence with long, sad faces, each of us seem lost in thoughts of, “What if, maybe we can, and should we.” I remember looking out the window of the car all the way up to chicago with my hand on my tummy, gently rubbing it, watching people on the outside going on with their lives. The life of my baby will soon come to an end and no one will ever know of even care. We arrive all too soon and we walk the two windy blocks to the women's clinic. There is a protest going on today in front of this building. Angry women and men with big, accusing signs shouting in protest against abortion and the murder of children. We have to walk straight through that mob to get in. My mother wraps her arms around me tightly as we quickly walk up the sidewalk. The protesters see us coming and they know what we are about to do. They surround us and yell thier angry words. I keep my head down and avoid all eyes. I do not want to be there, I am on thier side, I agree with them, but I am in my mothers grip and I have to go forward. One angry woman steps in front of us and starts to yell, “ do you know that you are going to kill a baby?!” I want so badly to stop & talk to her, I look her in the eyes and she seems to see the hurt and desperation in my face. She gives me a look of pitty and understanding and steps aside. The others are not so kind or merciful.

The inside of this clinic was cold and uninviting. Nurses were rushing about. Young men had long sad faces, full of worry and guilt. There were parents fitfully pacing the floors, waiting, suffering in silence. It was a place where new life walked in and was then tricked into death. I was forced to see a counseler before my “procedure” and I poured out my fears, hopes and dreams for keeping this baby and giving her life, but she has heard this sob story a million times and some where in her heart, it all became just words, not real people. She politely nodded her head and then sent me on my way. That walk down the lonely hallway was cold, bare and uncaring, I could almost hear the faint cries of newborns bouncing off the walls pleading for a different way!

As I was placed on that hard cold metal table, the doctor who has made a life out of taking it, seems tired and irritable, rushing to get this little problem out of the way. He is very matter of fact, not really looking at me, but rather through me. He hurriedly explains what he is doing as he has a thousand times before, “ a little cold, some cramping, over in a minute”. Just like that.....over...done...gone...no more.
As he turns on his machine of death, I break down and cry, “Goodbye my little one, do not be scared, I love you!” The young nurse who did not look much older than myself, took my hand and held it as she wiped away my tears, it was the only kind thing that happened to me that day. I feel like the hardness of that inviroment had not yet penetraded her heart.
In the recovery room or should I say the greiving room, was another young girl my age who had just gone through her own little procedure. Her story was a lot like mine ,but her father was a big politican with a nice carrer ahead of him and having a pregnant teenage daughter was out of the question. So here she was, getting fixed for daddy. We cried together.

In one short day I had a new life inside of me, full of promise and who wanted to live as we all do, yet she was taken away in a matter of seconds because having her would have been inconvient for a few people. So she was sent to live her life with Jesus and just knowing that my daughter is with God makes the pain bearable. I shall meet her some day and will finally become her mommy. I often wonder what kind of woman and mother she would have been ,and I have thought about her every week for the last 31 years. She is my child & I am her mother and nothing can ever change that fact.

Thank-you again.

NOBODY ever gets over an abortion, I know, it has been over 30 years and I still think about her & I ask the Lord on a weekly basis to give her a hug from mommy.

I know that much of the time we focus so much on the act of abortion itself that we look past the person who made the decission to do it & throw our fingers in thier face. When my mother & I had to walk through that angry mob, no one tried to speak kindly to us or offer us an option. They surrounded us like hungry lions out for the kill, screaming at us with thier big 'holy' signs! I remember when we left the building hours later, the mob was gone, no one was there to help the young ladies with thier pain. I cried all the way down those steps, my mom & dad were helping me to stay on my feet as the guilt & pain came out in sobs.
That mob of accusing people left a bad taste in my mouth about Christains for a long time until the Lord took/touched my heart for His Glory about 12 years ago. He has set me free from the guilt & pain of that day, but my arms & heart still ache for a daughter that I am looking forward to meeting in Heaven some day.

Thanks for letting me get this out.

for His Glory...

Nancy Addie
 

I listened to a Joyce Meyer podcast on my ipod today and she talked about going deeper into the love of God. She talked about a lot of different things, but mainly about our attitudes, not complaining, and receiving from God.

I wrote down a lot of notes on the things that really spoke to me. One of the first things that I wrote down was when she was talking about people not tithing to the church for whatever reason/excuse - like when funds are misused by the pastor or ministry. She said that no matter what, we need to do our part. God will still bless US and ultimately deal with those who are abusing the annointing in their ministry - because they won't get away with it forever. It may take some time; but God WILL deal with them. That is definitely true, because there are many ministries and pastors that do wrong and the Lord does deal with them. In fact, the church my mother used to go to had a pastor who was doing things he should not have, and he had a stroke and died. My mom believes that the Lord "struck him down" just like he did certain people in the Bible. I don't doubt it any. But, he doesn't deal out "death" necessarily to everybody or every situation. In fact, He gives us many chances to repent and be obedient. Sadly, some people don't, and they REALLY learn the hard way when they have to be humbled by GOD HIMSELF!!! Yes, it's discouraging when we see ministries and God's people behaving badly (like a certain someone and their ministry attacking my good friend and her godly ministry for NO REASON other than jealousy and pride and the desire for their own ministry to be supreme) but the LORD WILL DEAL WITH THEM!! God is our vindicator...all we have to do is be patient and wait on Him all the while PRAYING FOR OUR ENEMIES and for the truth to be revealed to them.

Another thing she talked about was our bad attitudes towards things. The Bible tells us not to complain, and for good reason too, because it gives the devil a foothold. And, like I wrote previously about "The Lord of the Rings," our temptations and addictions will rule us. You complain one time about something, and the next time something makes you mad, that's the first thing your flesh wants to do (if you are continuing to live by the sinful nature). So, how do you stop a sinful habit? How do you kill the addiction? She said, "the same way you kill anything.....you stop feeding it." Colossians 3:5 tells us to kill the flesh (our sinful nature). It reminds me of what Heather always used to say: "Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death." I also have another friend who says: "Be filled with living water; demons can't swim in it." :) [

"The flesh is stupid...." she says. Whatever we give it is what it's going to want and what it's been trained to do. She said it's like having a hot fudge sundae six days a week and then on the seventh day, even if you are so full you could puke, you will still eat it because your flesh will have to have it and won't let you go without it. I can relate to that. You get addicted to food, or to anything, you get controlled by it and you just give in automatically without hardly lilfting a finger to fight it. She says that catering to the flesh feels good for a while, but in the end, the bill is going to come. Whether that bill is a few extra pounds, an over limit credit card, a broken home from alcohol/drug/sex/ addictions, or whatever your vice, YOU WILL PAY!! Sin has consequences! Sin DESTROYS!!

We got to go deeper with God to get what we really need. We need to forget the desires of our sinful flesh that don't produce anything but bad fruit. We need to be choosy about what we do and don't spend our time on. If it produces good and meaningful fruit, it's worth it. But, if there's nothing but bad or worthless fruit, don't waste your time.

We got to quit whinning and complaining about every little thing, I mean my gosh! We have SO MUCH! There are those that don't have what we have - not everyone gets to take a nice shower every day, or drink a glass of clean water, or wake up in a nice bed, etc. The stuff we complain about all the time is so PATHETIC!! She says: "Get over yourself and ask God what you can do for HIM." Enough of the "me, me, me, I want, I want, I want." Let's listen to God and cast our nets into the deep and get out of the shallow water where we aren't going to catch a single blessing. Like Peter who caught no fish until Jesus told Him to go deeper, neither are we going to receive any more from God until we are willing to leave our comfort zones and go deeper to receive the abundant blessings that will overflow our boats and even spill into the lives and boats of others. :)

If we want to be blessed, we got to "go deep" and get serious. To whom much is given much is required, and we got to drop our attitudes and selfish pride and listen to God if we want a better relationship with Him, answers to our questions, and results! We also need not compare ourselves to others. We need only compare ourselves to JESUS who is the standard to be measured by. Why compare one human being to another? What's the point of that? Do we want God's blessing or not? What may be permissible or ok for one person may not be what God wants for you. He has a higher and/or different calling for you than he does "so and so." Don't be like Peter and say, "What about Him?" After all, Jesus would only say, "What is that to you? Feed my sheep!" Don't live to see how much you can get by with. That's a sorry way to live your life. Just live for God and what he is calling you to. Don't compare to others!

Well, that's all the notes I have and I really got a lot out of it. I feel like it was preached directly to me and it really sunk into my heart. I will be pondering on this one quite a while. I pray that we will all search out the deepness of God. May "deep cry out to deep" and be fulfilled!! :)  

At church today, we were going through more of the ten commandments. Today, taking the Lord's name in vain and keeping the sabbath holy was discussed.

There was a lot of great stuff in the sermon, but the things that stood out to me the most was the greater detail about taking the Lord's name in vain. It's more than just using God or Jesus' name as a curse word. It's about defiling his name in our actions as well.

I think an even greater way of misusing God's name is when we as CHRISTians take His name and really drag it through the mud by not bearing His name well. We do this with our words and actions. Every careless word and action that people hear and see and then wonder how we could possibly be a Christian. Not only that, we also misuse His name when we use it for our own gain and purposes. For example, there are many people and even politicians that hide behind the name of God and proclaim faith when, in fact, their belief is only on the surface. Their actions don't follow their proclaimed "faith" and they do things contrary to God's Will and the truths of the Bible.

This kind of thing needs to stop!! We are God's ambassadors, and we need to be a positive reflection of God's character and show others what God is like. If we are living in the flesh, how is that showing others the love of God? How will they know who God really is and how much He loves them if we take our very title as CHRISTians and bring it so low?

It's time to live authentically and to live like the lights of Christ that we are meant to be. We need to reflect the true character God; not the character of our sinful nature.  

It's amazing what kind of things you can learn! Most of you know how much I love "Narnia" and C.S. Lewis. So, when I found out that J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were friends, I was a tad more open to seeing "The Lord of the Rings," though it isn't my typical kind of movie. So, I didn't bother seeing any of the movies until now. Even after watching the first movie last night, it's probably not something I would watch again (and clearly, C.S. Lewis is the better writer and better able to clearly show spiritual truths) but there was a lot that I learned from the first movie last night.

I'm sure most of you have seen the movies. We have yet to see the next two, but the first one did have things to take away from it. The way I see it, every one of us has a "ring" that we lust after, pursue, and seek. Every one of us has a "ring" of temptation; forged by Satan to ensnare us and bring us under his control. Our "rings" will seek to go back to their "master" which is Satan. We can never master our rings. "The ring has but one master." (One of the most important and crucial lines of the movie that spoke to me). That is for certain. We can never master temptation. We ourselves are not stronger than evil. The only one that has overcome temptation and evil is Christ. That is why, to resist the power of the ring of temptation in our lives, we must SUBMIT ourselves to the Lord and THEN resist the devil and he MUST flee. The only way we will not succumb to the temptation of the ring is to flee from it and it's power by first submitting it to the Lord. The Lord's strength will be our strength. His strength perfects our weakness.

If we continue to hold on to our "ring" and don't destroy it as it so needs to be, we will be tempted and controlled by it. And, should we give in to it, it will master us all the more and Satan will have a foothold or his "eye" on us; just like the evil eye in the movie.

The "fellowship" is also an important thing to have in fighting temptation. We aren't strong enough to face it on our own and need others to help us. Though, there are times where we do need to face and fight our own battles - especially if we would endager those that try to help us. It's important that those who do help us with our temptations aren't being heavily tempted by the same sin themselves, or they won't be much help to you or themselves.

So, what's the "ring" in your life that you lust after, pursue, and are mastered by? We all have them. One of my rings is food. Sometimes I do ok, and other times (like yesterday) I do really awful. But, I will win the weight-loss/food addiction battle because I have God on my side! I am learning more and more that God is the one who fulfills and never leaves me empty or wanting. He always satisfies. We all long for power and fulfilment from something, because it's in our sin nature. But, if we have the Holy Spirit of God and are led by that instead of our flesh, our sinful nature won't have the upper hand, and our truest longings will be fulfilled by God and truly be satisfied. After all, our own sinful desires never give us what we need and don't satisfy for long...we are always wanting more and our greed just keep corrupting us and getting us into more and more trouble.

So, surrender your "ring" of addictions, ungodly pursuits, and temptations that trip you up and ensnare you. Rely on God to set you free and you won't be mastered by the "ring." DESTROY YOUR RING!!

Anyways, that is what I got out of the first movie and I will probably post a couple more blogs when I watch the next too. I will also post some Narnia notes when I read through the series a second time. There is so much wisdom and wealth in those books and in the movie as well. I can't wait for "Prince Caspian" next year. :) I know it will be breathtaking and beautifully made!!