Blithering update!

So its been a while since I've blithered so I thought I'd take the time to update you on where I am in life right now. I have become disabled which means I've lost the job that I felt was more like a ministry than a job. I have had several surgeries that had some complications, one of which, I would have died had my daughter not stopped by the house to check on me as I was in acute renal failure with rhabdomyalisis and it ended up with me being sent back to St. Luke's in ICU and then to the same floor I had been on after my 3rd back surgery. Along with these issues, I have also been blessed with another beautiful granddaughter and was blessed to hear that she had my middle name which is also her mother's middle name and comes from my great great grandmother. Also, along with the disabilities comes a very sad dynamic... I cannot be trusted alone with the grandchildren because of all the "what if's" and I totally get it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something terrible happened while in my care. The truth be told, I have been having a lot of these problems for more than just this past 2 years... I had to come clean with myself and then seek medical help. I thank God that I never caused an accident on the highway when I cannot recall how I got from point A to point B. Praise Him for watching over us all! There was a horrible rift between my father and myself which has since been tentatively mended. I know how things go with him and as long as he feels that he isn't 'cast away' then all is well in his world. He is more involved with his daughter and their family and that gives him purpose and as sad as it is, at least its good for him to feel like that. What is so strange is that people can't understand that I am completely content being at home. I've always been a homebody and being that I cannot drive, I am very content to be at home. My husband keeps trying to convince me that I'm depressed. He claims that I am now mourning so many things that I never allowed myself to mourn about like the death of my grandmother, the death of my step-father (both of which I was their primary caregiver prior to their deaths) and the death of my daughter's 4th son after birth. These are all legitimate things to mourn about but I think that I've gotten through all of these situations as best as I can. The biggest thing that I mourn and no one can seem to understand is my loss of breath to sing. I once lead worship and now I can't even sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with my granddaughter. I know what everyone says... you can worship without singing, just do what you can. But no one understands the connection that I felt to the One I was worshipping and the 2 way ministry that was taking place at the time. I would say that is the one thing that I really struggle with and there is no one but God to talk to about it because everyone else wants to minimize it and don't appreciate the connection that was there. Another really big issue is this pain pump trial and how I have to see a psychologist first. After reading through the paperwork I was to fill out, I became very upset because I feel that most of it is none of their business and there are parts of it that are outright offensive to ask. Then my husband tells me if I don't play the 'game' by their rules, then I won't get the pain pump. I don't feel that I should have answer to some PhD about my sex life or my pain levels and where it is, etc. as this is documented with all of my doctors and has been an ongoing problem for so long I couldn't answer even if I wanted to. But when the subject of sex is brought up, I feel that is offensively invasive. Absolutely none of their business. Would any of YOU feel that this is something that you feel is important in reference to getting a pain pump? Seriously! So, though its been a while, I have tried to catch you up. This is definitely considered blithering! :-)

Call hith wife...

Ok... one more from my delightful 6 year old grandson!

This one was related to me by his mom (whom I find equally delightful)!

He asked to use her cell phone to call Papa (my husband... he's Papa, I'm Nana).

She got him all set up and Papa's cell phone was ringing. A few moments later mom notices he is sitting there, staring at the phone, deep in thought.

She asks him, "Well, did you talk to Papa?"

He pauses for a moment... still deep in thought... and says, "He thaid to call hith WIFE!?" Then a moment later he said, "I fink that'th Nana!"

Farmers Can't Do Nuffin'.

I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren. When I get to have one on one time with one of them, it is especially delightful!

The other day I had the opportunity to spend some time with the 6 yr. old grandson. He is particularly amusing to me because of his pronunciations - as you can imagine a 6 yr. old to use. I was driving him through the county farmland to meet his parents at a drop-off point. As we traveled through the farmland I pointed out all the corn in the fields and how tall it was. He decided to give me his 'take' on the farmers' responsibilities. (I'm attempting to share this in his vernacular... please bear with me in the spelling!)

He said, "Farmers can't do nuffin. All they can do is get up and eat breakfast and then go feed the cowth and clean up cow poop. Then they feed the chickenth and clean up chicken poop. Then they feed the pigth..."

To which I interjected, "... and they clean up pig poop?"

He said, "Yeah... then they feed the goatth and clean up goat poop. And feed the sheepth and clean up sheepth poop and then cut their hair and they are goatth."

I asked him, "So the sheep turn into goats when you cut their hair?"

He says, "No. Sheep ARE goatth when you cut their hair."

Stifling a giggle, I asked him, "So who taught you that?"

He said, "My dad... no [big brother's name]... no, dad told that to me and [big brother's name]."

This child was so very deep in thought as he related this information to me. I enjoy very much seeing the world through his eyes! Its a very interesting place!

I thought I'd share with you the actual lyrics to the song... most of us are quite familiar with the first verse... but did you know that there is more to the song? And it just gets better and better in my opinion!

The Star-Spangled Banner

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

OUR National Anthem

A MUST SEE video! We guarantee that after you watch this video you will NEVER take our National Anthem for granted again. This video is dedicated to every person who serves in our military and safety forces and who continue to keep us safe and FREE. From all of us at FootySites.com we wish all of you a very happy Independence Day!

Food for Thought about Global Warming...

Ok, while I don't pretend to have all the answers and I'm sure its possible that I'll step on some toes, I'm going to just throw out a thought or two on the topic of 'global warming' ... please bear with me and if you don't agree, please bear with grace! Thanks, in advance!

Well, I have not jumped on the 'go green' bandwagon. Not because I'm against reducing, reusing, and recycling... because I'm all for being good stewards of His creation. I've not jumped on the 'go green' bandwagon because I don't believe all the 'global warming' propaganda/hype (sorry if those words offend... I don't mean them to be offensive, I'm just not sure what words to use if I don't ascribe to it).

Ever since the first time I heard the term 'global warming' and the subsequent warnings that the earth is getting hotter, the polar caps are melting, and WE MUST DO SOMETHNG TO STOP IT NOW (while we still have the chance!) I had a scripture "pop up in my spirit" and I haven't been able to get past it.

Then last week, during the midweek service at church, a comment was made that really struck me and I looked up that scripture that "pops up in my spirit" and was even more awestruck at the verse!

Let me share the comment... or, more accurately put, my paraphrase of the comment...

"For someone to think that 'we' (mere humans) have the power to destroy something that God created - or worse yet - think 'we' (mere humans) have the power to stop 'global warming' if it were true - is awfully arrogant!" I was struck by the truth of the comment... mankind has always had a weakness in that area, hasn't it? Thinking back to the Tower of Babel, or how about Abraham and Sarah and Hagar, or the Israelites wanting a human king, or the disciples wanting to overthrow the current authority and put Jesus in charge? (Or trying to usher in the Second Coming by moving Jews from all over the world back to Israel? But that's another topic... we won't "go there" today!)

So here we are in present day 'bible times' and mankind thinks it can 'fix' the problem of global warming or that mankind can actually destroy the creation that God spoke into existence! Wow... it just seems to me that present-day mankind is thinking more highly of themselves than they ought!

Oh, and what was the scripture that keeps "popping up in my spirit"?

"While the earth remains,
seedtime and harvest
cold and heat
winter and summer
and day and night
shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 NKJV

What I was even more awestruck by was reading the verses just before this one, I found that not only were these God's words, but He spoke them to Noah AFTER Noah came off the Ark and built an altar and offered burnt offerings to the Lord... and the Lord promised him that He would never again curse the ground or destroy every living thing! And the very next words recorded are "while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, COLD AND HEAT, WINTER AND SUMMER, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE!"

I hope that this offers you some food for thought today!

Relationship vs. Fellowship

Have you ever filled out a job application and had to list references? Did you have to identify their relationship to you as well? How about the paperwork you fill out at the doctor’s office or hospital? You are asked to list numerous ailments/conditions that family members have and then you are asked to identify their relationship to you.

Have you ever had someone preach a message and heard them refer to your personal ‘relationship’ with God? How about when you were born again? Did you hear how you need to confess your sins, repent, ask Jesus to forgive you, and then you can have a personal relationship with God?

There are subtle differences between the words relationship and fellowship. I believe that most people say relationship but mean fellowship when speaking about the Christian walk. At the risk of seeming petty, I’d like to draw attention to these two words for a fresh look at them.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines relationship as:
1. The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.
2. Connection by blood or marriage; kinship.
3. A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: has a close relationship with his siblings.
4. A romantic or sexual involvement

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines it in similar fashion and adds synonyms to it.

re‧la‧tion‧ship /– noun
1. a connection, association, or involvement.
2. connection between persons by blood or marriage.
3. an emotional or other connection between people: the relationship between teachers and students.
4. a sexual involvement; affair.

—Synonyms 1. dependence, alliance, kinship. 2. affinity, consanguinity. Relationship, kinship refer to connection with others by blood or by marriage. Relationship can be applied to connection either by birth or by marriage: relationship to a ruling family. Kinship generally denotes common descent and implies a more intimate connection than relationship: the ties and obligations of kinship.

(Notice how kinship intensifies the meaning of relationship. Kinship includes relationship, but is more intimate than relationship.)


The American Heritage Dictionary defines fellowship as follows:
n.
1.
a. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.
b. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms.
2. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests.
3. Friendship; comradeship.
4.
a. The financial grant made to a fellow in a college or university.
b. The status of having been awarded such a grant.
c. A foundation established for the awarding of such a grant.

Random House Dictionary defines fellowship as:
–noun
1. the condition or relation of being a fellow: the fellowship of humankind.
2. friendly relationship; companionship: the fellowship of father and son.
3. community of interest, feeling, etc.
4. communion, as between members of the same church.
5. friendliness.
6. an association of persons having similar tastes, interests, etc.
7. a company, guild, or corporation.
8. Education.
a. the body of fellows in a college or university.
b. the position or emoluments of a fellow of a college or university, or the sum of money he or she receives.
c. a foundation for the maintenance of a fellow in a college or university.
–verb (used with object)
to admit to fellowship, esp. religious fellowship.
–verb (used without object)
to join in fellowship, esp. religious fellowship.
—Synonyms 2. comradeship, camaraderie, friendship, society, intimacy.


While the two words sound the same and are defined similarly, one is more intimate and more specific.

How do we make our connection to God using the word ‘relationship’? Let me give you an example of ‘relationship’ evangelism.

Acknowledge your sin, repent of it, ask God to forgive you, and you will have a personal relationship with Him.

On the surface, this seems wonderful. But is it really the connection that God wants with his children?

From the moment that God created man and placed him in the garden, man has had a ‘personal relationship’ with God. It is one of Creator and created. Whether you have believed on Him as your Lord and Savior or not, you have a personal relationship with God. He is the Creator and we are His creation. THAT is the relationship and it is quite personal.

But to have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ makes that relationship become more intimate as kinship. Scripture declares that when we are born again we become children of God; kinship. When we are born again, God becomes our Father; kinship. (Remember that kinship is a more ‘intimate’ relationship.)

But with regard to our faith life, do we want to stop there or is there more?

While I believe that kinship is incredibly important and a huge blessing ~ I believe there is much more. I believe, while God wants all of mankind to become His children, what God wants is fellowship with His children.

Unfortunately, in our American society, there are numerous examples of ‘kinship’ that does not include fellowship. There are many children who have kinship but no fellowship with one (or both) parents. These are people who have sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents (all kinship) but no fellowship. They are related by blood (or marriage) and yet they never see each other, never spend any time together, and do not know each other. They have a relationship of kinship but no fellowship. I think that this is unfortunate – both of the natural family as well as the spiritual family – as I see many examples of this in the church family also.

But I don’t believe this is what our Father God wants… I think we need to press a bit further toward His heart. That means we may have to get out of our ‘comfort zone’ but we’ll find ourselves in a more intimate place with our Lord.

Intimacy requires trust. There is no way around that. You cannot have intimacy without trust. You must trust the person to whom you are being intimate with and you must also be trustworthy. This is also a challenge for many because of influences from society and personal experience. You must search the Word of God to find His heart toward you and let that build your trust and your faith. He is gentle and loving and patient… all very important ‘trust-building’ characteristics.

Fellowship, at its best, is each knowing the ‘heart’ of the other. To fellowship with the Father is to know His heart and He knows yours. To be able to fellowship with Him, you must be in His Word – for it is there He is revealed to you. To fellowship with Him you not only need to know Him but be known by Him. That means talking with Him, spending time with Him, including Him in all areas of your life.

This is a very worthy goal… fellowship with the Father.

CLICK HERE if you want a list of all the scripture verses that have "fellowship" in them...