God Bless America

This post may be praised. Or met with scorn and hostility. Or, heck, it might even be ignored. But I've seen and heard a couple things recently (okay, "recently" being at LEAST the last decade or so) that kinda sparked me to just write my humble opinion.
What is wrong with people?! I guess everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame, their moment in the spotlight. When they suggest such things as taking down plaques off a school wall that's been there for twenty years or want to change the Pledge of Allegiance to take out "under God," all I can think is "What's the point?" It's been there for so long, why argue it now. If you don't like it or don't want your children to say it, then don't, and raise your children to do how you want them to do. If you don't like seeing it, don't look at it. If you don't want to hear it, change the topic, or the channel. This doesn't necessarily just include religious examples. People fuss about kids seeing too much violence on television. So program what your kids watch or don't let them watch TV. (*Gasp*) No TV?! You mean they'll have to...use their imaginations?! Noooooo! What's this world coming to?
Okay, sorry. That may have been a bit sarcastic. Just a tad. But seriously, people. I feel like these days EVERYONE has to complain about EVERYTHING (kinda like I'm doing now). And if it doesn't change to their way, it WILL be taken to court and publicized on every news station and tabloid in America. And sadly, I feel that religion is the main thing that takes a hit. Well, that and guns, but that could be another subject.
In my opinion, we NEED religion. Yes, I said religion. In fully reality, I truly feel we need God, but I'm trying to take baby steps here. Religion gives people something to believe in. If you don't have religion, what do you believe in? Hopefully at least you believe in right over wrong. But there's got to be a reason for everything. Yeah, I guess science can give reasons. But even science doesn't have all the answers. There are holes in science that have no explanation. If there's a hole in religion, it's filled with God. No, it may not be fully explained to you, but God knows the answer and maybe you're just not supposed to know it at this moment.
I know there's this whole thing of separation of church and state. And that may be some people's goal in throwing a snit about a little girl not being able to explain what her name Faith means in school. But I feel the majority of the pot-stirrers want everything religious removed just so they can fight the system and win. What is the point? Why is God so threatening to you? Why is celebrating Him and His Son so taboo? Does it hurt you to hear His name? Why are you so hell-bent on eradicating everything to do with religion? Yes, in a way I realize I'm coming off a little patronizing and sarcastic with these questions, but at the same time I really would like for someone to tell me the answers so I can better understand. I don't know that it'd necessarily change my opinion, but I'd like to know why a professional football player has to turn his Jesus shirt inside out. It doesn't reflect on the entire NFL. It shows HIS views. If you don't want your children to be around an etching in stone on the wall of the school, is it because maybe, just maybe, you're afraid they might believe? Is that so wrong?


*I know that this post is kind of all over the place, and I hope that you were able to follow along with my train of thought, even when it took a couple detours. This is a little rant that's been a long time coming, and I tried to put it down as comprehensibly as I could, but it was flowing out of my mind through my fingers and I kinda just went with it.

'Cause the Bible Told Me So!

So Michael and I are having a biblical argument...I was reading a small thing at the bottom of the article about an Westboro's plans to picket Robin Williams' funeral. It was "13 Things the Bible Forbids." I decided to read some out loud to Mike, and got to the part of not eating shellfish (shrimp, Mike's favorite!) and told him, kind of jokingly, that he was being bad. He demanded to know where that was in the Bible. I told him the verses, to which he replied I had to look at the context in which it was spoken. I told him God was telling the people what they could and couldn't do. He then demanded to know what people, to which I replied us. After some confusion, I explained what I was reading. Of course, then he wanted to know if it was from Westboro's site, which I said no, but it was an add-on for a story about them, but that it wasn't just THEIR beliefs, it's what is stated in the Bible.
He said it didn't apply to him because he isn't Jewish.
I kinda got frustrated and irritated with my husband at that point. I asked him if he agreed with homosexuality, to which he replied no, because it says so in the Bible that it's wrong (Leviticus 18: 22). I told him that by his reasoning it shouldn't apply to him because he's "not Jewish." When God gave these rules and regulations, yes, it was to the Jews at the time, but yet we as Christians still follow them today. Well, most of them. The ones we seem to like, such as "love thy neighbor" or "don't kill" seem to stick with us easier. And this is why people don't tend to like so-called Christians (not that my husband is a so-called Christian...this is a generalization). They pick and choose what they like and what they want to follow, and then to back up their belief, they declare "because the Bible said so." As I told Mike, this is why people have a hard time with Christianity because (and even I have a hard time with this) if he claims homosexuality is bad "because the Bible said so," then he should stop eating pork products and his beloved shrimp (Leviticus 11: 7-8). He claims he "could never be a Methodist" because they allow women to preach (other denominations may have women preach as well, but he just mentioned Methodists) which is wrong because women are not allowed to speak in church (1 Corinthians 14: 34-35). If he follows that, then he shouldn't have gotten his tattoos (Leviticus 19: 28). There's many other examples of such controversy between today Christians and how they choose to follow the Bible.
Normally this issue doesn't bother me, but in this instance it just irked me. That, and the frustration of trying to explain/defend my case to my husband and his unwillingness to concede to my views kinda made it escalate. If I really dwell on this issue, then it does bother me when we as Christians choose what we want to follow. This is one of the MANY reasons I'm, shall we say, less than happy with Westboro Baptist "Church," as they are ones that focus on one aspect of the rules and run away with protesting it. They need to pull the planks out of their own eyes before trying to get specks out of others' (Luke 6: 42). I realize I probably need to do the same, not to mention I'm sinning by gossiping about my husband (I love you, dear!) (Leviticus 19: 16). I'm not saying I'm perfect by ANY means. I try to follow the rules. I, myself, don't even know all the rules laid out. It just really irks me when people hide behind the Bible for one issue, but completely disregard other issues.

(*sigh*) This was a little rant-y, for which I'm sorry. But don't say you believe one thing "because the Bible told me so," and yet disregard others because you don't like them.

Okay...I think that is all.


*Apparently that wasn't all...I realize that by going on this rant and posting it probably broke hundreds of biblical laws in itself, thereby making it basically moot and putting me in the category of the mentioned "so-called 'Christians,'" and for that I'm sorry. I claim I "don't know much about the Bible," which is a true statement, and I am learning, but ignorance is not an excuse.

I've Had a Revelation

I feel like such a bad mommy. I let Jake watch WAY too much TV. Almost as soon as he wakes up in the morning, he asks to watch "his show" (which is one of a collection of kid shows). Don't get me wrong. His shows are for the most part educational, such as Sesame Street, Super Why, Leap Frog's Numberland, or Color Crew. He's got a few others like Bob the Builder and Tree Fu Tom that are kid shows, but not entirely educational. Today was evidence of how bad it was, though. Our power went out with the storm that blew through and he was in the middle of watching one of his shows when the TV cut off. He immediately started whining for me to turn it back on, and didn't fully understand why I wouldn't/couldn't do it. Then he literally cried over it. So I've decided to try (just TRY and see how this goes) to cut off the TV for a bit for him. Now, if I have a groom or something I might pop in a movie or put on one of his longer-running shows, like Sesame Street or something. And he does play with his toys or color, which is good. Or we'll go to the park for a little bit (unfortunately, even though we have a nice-sized, fenced-in back yard for him to play, it is swarming with mosquitoes and we get eaten alive within minutes of being out there...ick). He's not ENTIRELY addicted to the television. But I'd like to try it just for maybe a week and see how it goes.
Then I had another thought. While he watches television, I'm always on the computer or Nook playing games, on Facebook, or on Pinterest. Well, I can't exactly do that while he gets no technology, can I? I don't like being a hypocrite. So what I think I'll do is cut out my technology time and figure something else out. I have a few things that I've been wanting to do, but the computer screen has gotten in the way. I've got tons of books I have yet to crack open. I have crosswords and puzzle books I can do. I even have some crocheting I can work on (right now it's just a "popcorn" string for the Christmas tree, but I want to learn to do blankets and other things...Oh, mo-om!!!).
Now, I know some of you think I tried this before. Yes and no. Before I was going to completely cut out Facebook because there were some people bugging me. That lasted maybe a day. This time I'm not entirely boycotting it. I might get on the computer some after Jake goes to bed at night. I don't want to completely get off of Facebook because there's family and close friends I want to keep up-to-date with (so many babies coming into the world!). And I can NOT relinquish my Pinterest!!! How else am I going to plan what to do with my lottery winnings when the time comes? ;-)
Anyhoo...I'm thinking I might start Monday, since this is a holiday weekend and might be kinda crazy and off-schedule and such. Like I said, I just want to try it for a week and see how it goes. If anyone has any ideas for hobbies and such for me, I'll take suggestions!

Your Baby Blues So Full of Wonder...

This time three years ago, mommy was trying so desperately to get some sleep, but wasn't able to. Why? Because a certain little monkey wanted to play "hard to find," forcing mommy to stay hooked up to monitors to read your heartbeat. See? You always were a little mischievous, even in mommy's belly.
In a few short hours it'll be that bittersweet day of the year again. You'll be a whopping three years old (eek!), and though I love watching you grow and explore and learn, I realize it takes you further and further away from being that tiny baby mommy and daddy brought home. You've grown so much this year, Jake. You speak in almost full sentences now (and that just seemed to happen over a weekend when mommy was gone!). You're SO independent, wanting to do things yourself and after having done something exclaiming, "I did it! All by myself!" You're a big help to your papaw, especially with bringing tools and equipment to him when he's working on something (the big project this year is a room being built on mema and papaw's house). The build has seemingly been a big wonder to you. You've gotten to see up close a tractor working and a cement truck. Obviously you are typical boy, loving anything mechanical and...well...BIG and mechanical. Trucks, tractors, emergency vehicles, planes, helicopters...yep, you point every single one out to me or daddy. And a lot of times make their noises, too.
Aside from that, your television/movie loves are Sesame Street, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cars (especially Mater), Horton Hears a Who, Bob the Builder, Super Why, Animal Mechanicals, and Thomas the Train. I love how you now interact with your shows like Sesame Street and Super Why. You really like learning (which is AWESOME...please don't ever lose that). You like to get out your markers and paper and have mommy draw letters so you can trace them. You point out letters or numbers everywhere. You even turn your snack into the alphabet, biting corners or loops off of pretzels or graham crackers to turn them into letters. You absolutely love books, and typically want mommy to read to you at bedtime (sorry, daddy, I guess mommy just does it better!). Any time you can you present a book to mommy or daddy to read. Sometimes we'll read to you, or we'll tell you to "read" to us. I love the stories you come up with, both with books or with everyday things. You once told me that a helicopter couldn't fly because it was sick and had to stay home and watch Sesame Street.
You're so caring and attentive. You ask about your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even great grandparents all the time. If someone coughs or says ouch, you immediately ask, "You okay?" You want to see the doggies that come to the house for mommy to groom. You love your kitty cat, Cali. You pick her up whenever she lets you. When she cries, you ask her if she needs help. You help mommy every morning feed your own doggies, Lady and Sprite. You love animals in general, pointing out squirrels at the park or deer in papaw's field. You love when we get to go to Yoder's to see the farm animals there. Your favorites are the goats and pigs (when you see them) and think the turkey is funny when it gobbles at you.
Potty training is kind of at a standstill right now. You do wonderfully going pee pee but are still struggling with going poopy in the potty. Lately you've been telling mommy you need to go potty, but have already gone poopy in your underwear by the time you're there. You get so disappointed when that happens. It's frustrating, but you'll get it.
You also love music. You sing. You dance. You love to play instruments like mommy's keyboard or mema's piano or your toy drums or xylophone. Anytime music comes on a show, you stop playing and say, "Need to dance, mommy." And sure enough you do it. You have a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer recorded book you got from Uncle Chris, Aunt Danielle, Emily, and Kaila one Christmas. On the last page, after Aunt Danielle finishes reading, your cousin Emily sings. You love to open just to that page and wait for Em to start singing, then you begin dancing around the room.
One thing mommy's really thrilled about is that you love going to church. You're a little nervous lately because we've changed buildings, and you aren't the greatest with change. But you still see Miss Dannielle and Miss Amy and Miss Christine and everyone and always have a good time learning about God and Jesus and the wonderful works that have been done and continue to happen all around you.
Well, you're asleep now and mommy needs to sleep, too. When you wake up you'll be three, or "free," as you proudly state now. You're growing up too quick. You're a sweet little man and mommy and daddy couldn't have asked for better. We love you so much, monkey.

Happy birthday, Jacob!

Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain

Have you ever just sat and listened to the rain? It's quite peaceful and therapeutic for the soul. I decided to sit out on the front porch and just watch and listen (after the worst of the lightning dissipated). I've always loved listening to the rain (especially on our metal roof!) and watching lightning slash across the dark sky. It scares me a little when it hits really close, but in general it's so awesome to watch. And God created this, just as He's created...well...everything! It just blows my mind, really. He created the dark, raging storms, but He also created the bright, sunny days. So just remember that if there's a raging storm going on in your life right now, He'll send the sun to chase away the darkness and dry up the tears.
Who knows...maybe you'll be lucky enough to get it topped off with a rainbow.

Let's Hear it for the Boy!

God is AWESOME!!!

Yeah, I could just leave you with that and it'd be enough, but I'll elaborate just a smidge more. No, nothing really remarkable has happened lately. I just had this strong urge to let y'all know this (if you didn't already!). Far too often I tend to turn to God when I need Him. I have my usual prayers, asking for the general "watch over us and bless us" every day kind of thing. And that's all well and good, but it kinda hit me that I don't do a whole lot of praising, except maybe in church. Which is sad, because He is so magnificent and DOES bless us every day, though we may not see it right away.
Example: if you've read my last couple posts, then you know my family has been going through kind of a crummy time. That's the big picture I look back at at the end of the day. But throughout the days I find myself thinking (sometimes forcefully if it's been a particularly bad day) of good things here and there. The sweet smell of honeysuckle along a country road, the sound of my son's laughter, a glimpse of the breathtaking mountains, my husband singing (somewhat off-key, but hey...). There's so many wonderful things to thank the Lord for, and though I may appreciate it at the time I experience it, I don't think to thank Him for it. Instead, at the end of the day I complain about our "big picture" issues and do a quick "thanks" for our health and carry on.
I don't know about each individual's situations, and maybe you're having a string of bad luck, but don't forget to thank and give praise to the One who loves you enough to give you the chance to experience little things, the One who loves you enough to give you food and clothes and a home and family, the One who sent His only Son to take our sins on his shoulders and pay the price. Don't ya think He deserves it?



(*Just a side note: if you've been reading my posts for a long while over the last couple years, maybe you'll wonder why all of a sudden I'm seeming so "Yay, God!" lately. Again, no real special reason. I've just felt really compelled to write about it.)

(*Another side note: I hope and pray God has a sense of humor because this is the only title I could think of for this post!).  ;-)

I Won't Give You More...More Than You Can Take

In light of recent events, there's a thought that has kept going through my mind. I've heard it many times; I'm sure you have, too. And after having heard this quote over the years, within the past months alone I've heard it...debunked, I guess. I've struggled with this, because it was sort of my mantra in troubling times. I'm nowhere near an expert. I'm learning new things each day. So bear with me as this is just my take on this.

"God doesn't give you more than you can handle."

I've seen and heard people now say that this isn't true. That He does occasionally give us more than we can handle. That some things are just too much for any mortal to take. But I don't think that is true and it really bugs me that people are beginning to think this way. Sure, God gives us a lot. He tests us. He tries us. He takes us on tedious journeys that seem to take the long way around to our destination. But He's always with us. People think that they can't go on, they can't do it, because they don't call on Him. He's the One to give us strength to get through. If you don't believe, have faith, then you don't know His strength is there.

Think about Job. Job went through a lot. God allowed everything to be taken from him. His family, his wealth, his health. But he kept his faith. He did not turn away from God. And in return God got him through it. He rewarded him for his faith. If Job couldn't have handled it, well, it would have been a much different outcome. But how did Job handle it? Because of God. He gave it all to God. If it was God's will, then Job understood. This was just Job's test. And he passed with flying colors.

God tests us, too. Sometimes with little things. Sometimes with much, much bigger things. But do you ever think that maybe He gives us these tests so that we HAVE to call on Him or acknowledge Him? I guess, in a sense, maybe He does give us more than we can handle...if we try to handle it ALONE. But if we ask for His help and have faith that God is on our side then we CAN handle anything, big or small.

Remember: "If God brings you to it, He'll get you through it." (That's another mantra of mine!)