My husband left early on Tuesday to take a five hour trip to check on his brother. Richard has recently been put into a nursing home, and my dear husband has waited until we completed all of our travels to see grandchildren before going to visit him. Harry was also reluctant to go since I wanted to stay alone, something I have not done much since my stroke five years ago today. Anyway, Harry took the old Kia that we own, wanting to leave the newer Toyota with me. I promised to call someone if I had an emergency and to just stay at home and rest. We prayed before he left, that the car would make it there and back and that he would be safe in it. Well, guess what? He got back late yesterday and went out today in the Kia to run errands. At the library where he went to pick up a book for me, the car just quit. He thinks it threw a belt and he called AAA for a tow and me for a ride. Isn’t God good? Harry drove over 400 miles in that little car and had no problems with it, just as we had prayed. Then, once he was home, it quit. It is sitting in the garage now awaiting the mechanic’s verdict about whether we should get it repaired or not. I’m just so thankful that God answered our prayers. Harry was safe on the whole long trip, Richard is doing well and enjoying the books that I sent him, and Harry has peace of mind about his brother now. The Kia? Well, that is up to God, but I trust Him.

The second photo is from anchorofmysoul.com here on WordPress.

God is good…all the time. Happenstance? Nope! God answered the prayer that we prayed just as we had prayed it. Be specific in your prayers, my friends, because God is listening. Blessings for a restful night!

No matter which side of the abortion debate you are on, you probably know about the Supreme Court decision in Roe V. Wade. In this historic decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a woman has the right to choose abortion up to the point of viability of the fetus. The issue is when is the fetus viable? When does life begin? As a pro-life supporter, I am a strong believer that life begins at conception. The governor in the state of Virginia in which I live says that the mother has the right to end the baby’s life even after birth. What? Why isn’t that murder?!? His left-wing beliefs are even decried by some abortion advocates, but not enough to get him to change his mind. By the way, before he was governor, he was a pediatric neurologist. Seriously? Someone let him work with children when he didn’t value their lives? I was appalled when he was elected and continue to be outraged at some of his beliefs.

So, on this anniversary of Roe V. Wade, I want to once more state clearly that I believe life begins at conception. If the mother’s life is at stake, then that is a decision between the mother, the father and God. It should never be the decision of the state nor should the decision be influenced by a mob of angry people shouting, “It’s a choice!” I myself get angry about all of the people who get involved in what is supposedly the mother’s choice. Planned Parenthood uses our tax dollars to perform and encourage abortions. That violates the Hyde Amendment, but everyone seems to be looking the other way where PP is involved. They are an evil organization that does not fear God or His laws or the sanctity that He has placed on life. So, on this date, I want to call on you to stand for life. Write a post about your stand. Go online and post about your stand. Take a stand for life! Someone needs to speak for the unborn who do not have a voice. Here is Dr. Denison’s post today about this subject:

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/abortion-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us-the-persuasive-logic-and-compelling-story-of-life/

And if you are still not persuaded about God’s view on when life begins, think about this Scripture:

If God knew Jeremiah in the womb and He is no respecter of persons, do you not think that He knew you in the womb also? And He knew all of the millions of babies that have been killed by abortion?

I pray God’s blessings on you this day and that it may be a thoughtful day of prayer for all of those souls lost to abortion and for those who are lost in the trap of Planned Parenthood and other organizations like it. May God have mercy on their souls and bring them to repentance and belief in Him!

I am a partisan conservative in a country that has rapidly divided itself along the lines of being for or against our President. I want Congress to do the work of the people who elected them and stop this nonsense of trying to find a way to get the President out of office. I want the President to be able to do his job without interference from a vocal and noticeably angry Congress. I am incensed that the people who did not allow the President to have a fair trial with due process in the House of Representatives is not trying to tell the Senate how to run the trial. Nevertheless, in spite of all of my feelings and beliefs, I am a Christian first and a partisan conservative after. I do not want to turn people away from the Lord for all of eternity just because I am intent on pushing my beliefs. After all, separation from God once it happens is eternal…think about that. President Trump will leave office, next year or in 2024 or whenever it happens. Members of Congress will retire, die a natural death after serving a lifetime in their office, or leave office. Things on this earth do not last. Nothing does. But a relationship with God is eternal, so we need to work on nourishing that relationship within ourselves and with others. How will people listen to us speak lovingly about the Lord when we are railing unreasonably and loudly about a man who may or may not deserve our defense? God is all, always. That is what we need to remember.

Photo from centralumchurch.wordpress.com

Here is the article from Dr. Denison on this topic:

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/the-impeachment-trial-as-a-rorschach-test-three-rules-of-engagement-for-christians/

Blessings to each of you as you are the light and salt today and every day to a world that is lost.

I teach Sunday School from a curriculum called “Answers in Genesis.” Here is an article that they sent me this week in a weekly newsletter.

https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/seven-ways-atheists-are-religious/?utm_source=articlesmedia&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1-banner-cta&utm_campaign=20200118&mc_cid=51db5e3401&mc_eid=9ee11f6ad9

I was totally blown away by this article because I had honestly never thought about the fact that atheism is a religion unto itself. Their belief is that there is no god. But the tenets of their beliefs are based on religion itself. Interesting, right? Read the article for yourself.

This is basically a clean read and is available at your local bookseller or online.

This was a realistic look at what happens to someone’s life when they suffer a devastating loss and must move on. Nick and Kerry were childhood sweethearts and have a teen son named Ollie. When Kerry gets cancer, everything goes downhill quickly and Nick has to say goodbye all too soon. He is not ready to let go of Kerry, nor is Nick ready to help Ollie deal with the loss of his mother. The story is a sad, portraying the emotional journey that one takes after loss. Nick and Ollie are trying to find themselves and who they are supposed to be without Kerry. I really liked the flashback at the end of each chapter to 1992, a year when Nick was working with his friends to build a bicycle out of spare parts that they find. The story was slow-paced and not terribly interesting at times, but it did offer a fascinating and well-done character study of the main characters going through some complicated problems like dating, going to college and dealing with in-laws. I knew the ending was coming, with everything all wrapped up a a bow and all issues resolved, but it seemed to come too fast, so it wasn’t very realistic. This book is contemporary fiction and will appeal to fans of modern fiction that tugs on heartstrings.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

My rating:

The reason for my rating is the hurried and unrealistic ending. But the book is well worth reading, if only to find out the meaning of the title.

Links to purchase:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ap5CNC

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2G1gVhh

Happy reading, my friends!

I grew up in an upper middle class home in which social status meant a lot…almost everything. My mom always wanted more–the best car (we had a Cadillac), the most expensive clothes and jewelry and even a fur coat. But stuff, things, status is not lasting. One day, all of this will go away and you and I will stand before the King of Glory, with nothing to say for ourselves other than what we did for Him. You see, my friends, social status does not define who you are. Your character, however, says a lot about you and your relationship to the King of Kings. When my husband was in the military, making rank was “everything.” If you didn’t make rank, then you could be kicked out of the military, and there went your career. My husband advanced to the rank of Captain in the USAF and would have advanced higher if he had agreed to move again, probably overseas. But he put family above his career and turned down the last move and with it another advancement. Thus, he retired instead of continuing his military career. When he stands before the King, the Lord will not be asking Him for His military rank or any of the medals that he received to honor His hard work and commitment. No, our Lord wants to know only what we have done to make His kingdom grow, to spread the Good News and to revere His Holy Name. What we do does not define us, but who we are in Christ Jesus does. I was a teacher for 34 years, garnering many titles and awards through the years. All of my plaques and certificates are put away somewhere (I’m not even sure where right now). At the time, they meant a lot to me. Now, I look back and I see that they were like the dandelions that blow in the wind; they are soon gone from sight and don’t mean anything. As human beings in a society that is competitive about just about everything, we have learned the behavior that we have to be the best, have the awards to show it, and to have the best to show off to others. Like the Pharisees, we want to be seen for who we think we are instead of what is in our hearts. My prayer for each of you today is that you will examine your hearts and come to the realization that only Jesus and your relationship with Him matters. Only Jesus!

Here is an article from Dr. Denison that is on the same topic:

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/prince-harry-offered-a-job-at-burger-king-status-is-fickle-but-service-changes-the-world/

And here is a song to help you to remember what is important in life:

Only Jesus by Casting Crowns

When you are young, you have a tendency to think that you are almost immortal, that death will never touch you. Then, as you age, you begin to see those around you become more frail, become ill even and then pass away. And you begin to think, “Hmmm. That could be me!” How do I know about these thoughts? Because I have lived them myself. I was a young Christian, going through my life, taking care of my children and a job and going to church, studying the Bible, but not really making God the center of my life. Now, as I have aged, I have become closer to God. I spend more time listening for His voice, just enjoying the quietness around me and the beauty of His world. I can make excuses and say that when I was younger, I was just very busy. Aren’t we all? That doesn’t mean that we should put God on a back burner and continue with our lives, thinking that one day we will have more time for Him. What about all of the people who die when they are young? I am glad that God was merciful to me and has brought me this far in my life. I rejoice that He holds me close daily and is still teaching me to trust Him.

Blessings to each of you for a day filled with His love, His mercy and the knowledge that death is waiting for you, but it is not scary if you trust that you will go to be with the Lord.