Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Today, I invite you to drop by my last post, When God Ran.
As you listen and view the video, place yourself there and know the Father's love for you. In His arms, you will know the release of forgiveness, the warm love of His embrace, the security and safety of His power, the welcome you have always longed for. I pray that you are ministered to as I was.
Then go to Amy's blog to hear more songs that minister.

Drop by LauraLee's Lifesong if you have time. She is honouring God's work in my life in one of my posts.

Who Will Save The Children?

October 29th - November 5th, 2008 is Pornography Awareness Week.

If you do not already know that pornography is an epidemic of global proportions with its tentacles reaching far and deep into the church, I invite you to drop by Blazing Grace to read the cold hard facts. Check out a new resource for your church, a DVD, Somebody's Daughter.

Visit Peggy's blog to find out more info. on this DVD.

Today, though, I want to focus on child pornography.

Some time ago, I posted on the child sex slavery in Cambodia after seeing the short film, Field of Mulan. See here. I want to remind you again of the stench of child pornography and invite you to ask God how you can help.

One of the first things you can do is to inform yourself by seeing what is already being done by organizations such as International Justice Mission (Lanah's story), Ratanak Foundation, Transitions Global.

Check Lisa's blog to see how God has called her and what he has taught her over the past several years as she has volunteered a couple of weeks per year in Cambodia. See the valuable links on her sidebar.

Read your Bible, and see how God feels about those who rob children of their innocence.

Ask God, what then can I do?

Sing with Randy Stonehill:

Who Will Save The Children

(click on title to download mp3 song)

Cry for all the innocent ones

born into a world that's lost its heart

For those who never learn to dream

because their hope is crushed before they can start

And we shake our fists at the air and say,

"If God is love,how can this be fair?"

But we are His hands, We are His voice

We are the ones who must make the choice

And if it isn't now,tell me when?

If it isn't you, then tell me who will save the children?

Who will save the children?

We count our blessings one by one

yet we have forgotten how to give

It seems that we don't want to face

all the hungry and homeless who struggle to live

But heaven is watching tonight

tugging at our hearts to do what's right

And we are His hands, We are His voice

We are the ones who must make the choice

And if it isn't you,

then tell me who will save the children?

Who will save the children?

As we observe them through our T.V. screens

they seem so distant and unreal

But they bleed like we bleed

And they feel what we feel

Oh, save the children

Save the children

Save the children

Now we decide that nothing can change

and throw up our hands in numb despair

And we lost a piece of our souls

by teaching ourselves just how not to care

But Christ would have gone to the cross

just to save one child from being lost

And we are His hands,We are His voice

We are the ones who must make the choice

And it must be now

There's no time to waste

It must be you

No one can take your place

Can't you see that only we

Can save the children

Save the children

Save the children

Please, save the children

Written By Randy Stonehill©

Copyright 1984 by Stonehillian Music & Word Music

(a division of Word, Inc.)(ASCAP)


Father,
I pray for Your little ones all around the world on whom the grossest of injustices are being perpetrated. May You surround them with the unseen wings of angels. Expose the perpetrators to those seeking justice for those who have no voice. Deliver these children and open hearts and doors to safe places for healing, rehabilitation and reintegration. Only You can reach into the deep recesses of their spirits and pour Your healing love. Do it, God. I pray for those trapped in the depravity of sin that allows them to treat Your little ones so callously. May Your Spirit open their eyes, convict them of their sin and bring them to repentance. Father, I pray for all those who are working to combat child pornography who have heard Your voice calling them to Yourself and are now so weary of the uphill climb that has ensued. Not only are their limbs at the breaking point, they find themselves battling weapons hurled at them. Please, God, grant them a spacious place, a holy moment, an oasis, to know Your healing love, to run for a while, laugh and enjoy the life that You gave them. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen

'Egypt' or God?

Numbers 11:4-5 (The Holy Bible, NIV Version)

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Our news headlines predict a global economic crisis which will affect us all.

When the famine comes, will you look back to 'Egypt' like the Israelites? Will you be under the illusion that there was "no cost" to your life there? Like my pastor said last Sunday, "Are you kidding? No cost?!" Yes, they had a variety of foods, but were 'brick-making units', slaves to a cruel Egyptian master. When the crunch hits you, to whom, to what do you turn? What is your Egypt?

When we launched our Imagine campaign at church to expand our facilities, we, as a congregation were challenged to respond in faith. Here is a snippet of one man's searching his heart:

"...to get right down to it, much of my "security" was wrapped up in the amount of money that was in the bank. It's easy to ignore this conviction, but I knew it in my heart. It was just UGLY to see it, that's all. This process has been monumental for us in dealing with whom we are going to trust. Is it GOD or money? I have no doubts that much of my own grief has come as a result of trying to control circumstances and not going to GOD first. Fearful and stubborn hearts go down hard..."

His 'Egypt' was his black and white bank statement. That he could 'see'. In the end, he chose faith, that which he could not 'see', but chose One whom he could trust. GOD. And God was faithful. See here to see how things turned out.

Yet another member, a burnt-out Ph.D student with no money decided to ask God how she should respond and God gave her an amount she pledged in faith. Next thing she knew she was in Africa for 6 months with Samaritan's Purse even though she had never had any involvement in missions. This was like "weird" to her. Next, she was invited to a World Health Organization forum, made a comment and left as a chairman of a new committee. Wouldn't you know it? Another invitation arrived, to a UN meeting on human development. Oops, she went into the wrong meeting room with private corps. and when they found out her 'experience' in Africa, invited her to give her perspective, her "Christian" perspective. When that ended, she found herself being applauded and thanked. Samaritan's Purse next offered her a job managing several international projects. Perplexed, she asked herself, "how is this possible...here I am, a Ph.D student, a single woman, not experienced, not equipped...what on earth is happening here...?" One word, GOD. See here for the full story.

Pastor Sunder closed the message with an exhortation to turn to God, for He longs to hear us and direct us:

Isaiah 30:18-23 (The Holy Bible, NIV Version)

18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." 22 Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!"
23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.

Will you turn to Him today?

Falling For Jesus

“I guess I never loved you. You never meant anything….”
Betrayed, rejected, humiliated, and helpless, I turned to God.

"Teach me, Lord..."
He began to reveal that this experience would result in “an eternal glory that far outweighs” [1] all of my suffering: an eternal oasis that would last and serve as a firm and deep foundation in future wilderness periods.

As I hungrily devoured God’s Word, I became increasingly attracted to the humanity of Jesus. I began to yearn for such a man: a man of prayer, justice, mercy; a spiritual leader; trustworthy; a man who knew me and loved me completely.

Then it clicked. This is the Man!
The following conversation shows my growing intimacy with that Person my heart so longed for. I literally fell in love.

The journey begins…

As I come to meet You every day,

I want to sit and look straight intoYour eyes…

As I would ...

With someone that I wish to know

As I would...

With someone I am attracted to,

As I would...

With someone from whom I can learn.

I want to travel into those fathomless depths

That your eyes mirror...

Like waters, deep and mysterious,

Strong, calm, and peaceful

with undercurrents so powerful,

yet so controlled.

I have heard that in You

"are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" [2]

This I seek to unravel...

to discover...to unlock...

For I have heard that You willingly share

With those who would only take the time to listen.

"This is what the Lord says...

Call to Me

and I will answer you and tell you

Great and unsearchable things you do not know...” [3]

You have drawn a clear treasure map...

But I see the enemy lurking like a lion,

Seeking whom he may devour.

Momentarily distracted,

I focus on obstacles the enemy set.

Larger and larger they loom

As my heart sinks in despair.

In desperation I cry out Your Name,

Help me to turn and

Keep my eyes on You,

So that "the things of this earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of Your glory and grace." [4]

As our stares lock into each other,

I feel my mind and spirit

Becoming in tune with Yours...

What an enriching emotion!

I realize that my insight and understanding of

Your words to me are growing, deepening...

How it illumines a dull and dark mind!

How it refreshes a dry and thirsty soul!

Oh, what a marvelous relationship

This is turning out to be.

You are Friend and Teacher.

But…There is something else….

Your eyes!

They seem to be piercing right through me...

Right through my heart...my soul...

The deepest and darkest corners

Covered in cobwebs and "filthy rags".

I am being exposed.

Shame and horror fill me

As You root out and expose the true intent,

The unholy and stained heart.

I look away.

Is there any place that I can hide?

You are the Holy God, the Righteous Judge.

Suddenly, Your Presence overwhelms me.

Bowed in shame, I mutter...then cry out!

"Cleanse my heart, O God!"

"Hide your face from my sins and blot out my iniquity"

Time goes by so slowly

As the painful, humbling process of purification goes on...

My heart grows oh so tender

And my unworthiness before you grows.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changes,

I feel compelled to look up

As Your warmth envelops me.

I look up and straight into Your eyes,

Now brimming over with mercy,

Compassion, love and sweet forgiveness.

Oh, thank You!

My heart overflows with gratitude and praise...

You are my Savior.

I do believe that I am falling in love.

Oh, to become worthy of Your love,

A fitting bride I want to be!

You are my Bridegroom!

What is that?

"While you were yet a sinner,

I loved you…I died for you...

Nothing you do or say could add or subtract from

My perfect love for you."

Do you know what?

Tomorrow, I look forward to meeting You again.

There is so much to learn,

So much to be transformed

by the renewing of the mind.

How I long to gaze upon your Beauty,

Yet once again.

Thank you, Jesus.

The time has been precious.

Lovingly Yours,

Sita

[1] 2 Corinthians 4:17, The Holy Bible, NIV Version. (Unless stated, all Scripture taken from NIV Version).
[2] Colossians 2:3
[3] Jeremiah 33:3
[4 ]Lemmel, Helen H., Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, 1922

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Today, I am serving two entrees for you to choose from. It depends on where you are at the moment.

Perhaps you have recently been hit with hardship that surpasses your ability to endure and you need to process that. Then I invite you to read what Beth has to share and listen to the song by Brian Doerksen, His Faithfulness. Just go to the post immediately below. Or join Linda to hear the comfort of Near To The Heart of God.

Or, perhaps, your grief has already been processed on your knees and you are experiencing the the joy of sweet release, His rescue of drawing to Himself. You are now ready to look up, get up and avail of the invitation to dance from the Lord of the Dance Himself. Then go to the next post below and sing and dance, The Lord of the Dance.
Then go to Signs, Miracles and Wonders to hear more songs that minister.

More, so much more than one can bear...

2Corinthians 1:8-11

Today's session of To Live Is Christ was powerful and spoke to the times we know hardship that is far beyond our ability to endure....the times our response to the "how are you?" is..."I'm hanging on...just hanging on...".

Beth started off with a story when her daughter fell through a missing plank on a wooden bridge and grabbed on to the plank and hung on while someone stepped on her fingers unaware. Terrified, she never let go but kept on hanging on until her Dad noticed and grabbed her up.

Yes, as Christians, that does happen. We are so used to quoting 1Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear..." But Beth pointed out that 'temptation' is not equal to the 'hardship' spoke of by Paul in 2Corinthians 8: the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death...

Strange, I never associated Paul with despair. He was like that battery that kept on going, fulfilling its purpose without flinching. But Beth pointed out that apart from Christ, Paul probably went through more hardship than any of the NT believers. He had to experience the heights and depths in order to minister effectively.
We may find that the greatest hardships can arrive when we are being used most powerfully. (Acts 19:8-12, 17-20; 1Corinthians 15:30-32)

Satan cannot squelch the power of God, so he tries to disable the believer with hardship (to be compressed on every side) and great pressure (to be oppressed).

Like Paul, even the most devoted believers can experience hardships far beyond their ability to endure.
(I know a couple of them right now and this post is dedicated to them.)**

Believers can experience despair (to be wholly without resource).

Believers can experience feelings of doom (sentence of death).

Why? God wants us to rely (be convinced) on Him.

When our hardships surpass our enduring ability, God invites us to partake of His:

-Surpassing power (achieving power). (2Cor. 4:7)

-Surpassing glory (glory means to recognize Christ in us). (2Cor. 4:17)

-Surpassing comfort. (2Cor. 1:3-5)

When God delivers us as He says in 2Cor. 1:10: He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, He is speaking of a 'rescue' that translates to drawing to Himself. While we may want out, He wants us in, drawn to Him.

1John 4:16 says... And so we know and rely on the love God has for us...He wants us to be convinced that the only reason we got through was because He was there because of His love.

**Today I know some people who surpass most of us in how Jesus is recognizable in them, how God's glory shines in and through them. They have been allowed hardships that far surpass our abilities to endure.

My prayer for them is that they would know God's surpassing power, glory, comfort and delivery right now.

Will you all join me in praying for those whose bodies are being wracked by cancer and the painful effects of treatment?

Will you join me in praying for those whose prodigal children have wracked up destruction in their lives?

Will you join me in praying for those who have lost everything, home, money, dreams?

Will you join me in praying for those whose spouses have just walked out on them?

Will you join me in praying for those who know the emptiness of losing a child a spouse, a parent?

Thank you.

For Valerie...

This song is dedicated to my friend, Valerie. She has inspired me to dance along with her. Would you like to join us? Plese come. The Lord of the dance awaits you!

Hi! Come on in...

I remember growing up in the islands how people would drop by or we would drop by unannounced at the homes of friends or relatives on the way home from the beach frequently. I remember how one of us would quickly go to the 'shop' nearby to purchase some 'sweet drink' (soda pop) and or cakes. I remember that there was always food to offer. I remember how lovely and exciting it was to visit.

I miss those days. Here in Canada, I am often terrified that someone will drop in. You see, many times my cupboard only has enough to feed my family. At times, especially in winter, there is clutter everywhere as I struggle with depression to do basic tasks. My spiritual and emotional reservoirs are occasionally bare because I have not taken the time for refills and have completely used up yesterday's grace. I often feel I have nothing to give.

When I looked at the blogs chosen by Lysa for the radio show and I see how many people pop by to visit those blogs, I suddenly am so grateful I was not chosen. Most people are afraid of failure, I am afraid of 'success'. I am afraid of sudden popularity. I am afraid of jealousy. I am afraid that people will think I am 'something'. I am afraid they will expect something I was not equipped to give. Wow, so many "I'm afraids". Why? Because His love, although perfect in me because He lives in me, is not quite grasped by me 100% just yet. 1 John 4 says: God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

What I have to offer in my own strength is a fading offering. It will not satisfy anyone's hunger or thirst in any lasting way. But when I, with my own 2 fishes and loaves reserved for my own family, offer it up to God, I have faith to welcome you in to partake of what He has done with my paltry offering. He has made a banqueting table with His perfect love. He and He alone will serve you with a satisfying, life-giving portion of His love. I need not fear for my confidence lies in Him, in His love. So, if you are visiting today, please know that it is God Himself who prompted you to come. He wants to feed you today. Will you go to Him now?

Isaiah 55 (The Message)
Buy Without Money

1-5 "Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!

Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat!

Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.

Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,

your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?

Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,

fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,

listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you,

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

I set him up as a witness to the nations,

made him a prince and leader of the nations,

And now I'm doing it to you:

You'll summon nations you've never heard of,

and nations who've never heard of you will come running to you

Because of me, your God,

because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

6-7 Seek God while he's here to be found,

pray to him while he's close at hand.

Let the wicked abandon their way of life

and the evil their way of thinking.

Let them come back to God, who is merciful,

come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

8-11"I don't think the way you think.

The way you work isn't the way I work."

God's Decree.

"For as the sky soars high above earth,

so the way I work surpasses the way you work,

and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies

and don't go back until they've watered the earth,

Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,

producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,

So will the words that come out of my mouth

not come back empty-handed.

They'll do the work I sent them to do,

they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

12-13 "So you'll go out in joy,

you'll be led into a whole and complete life.

The mountains and hills will lead the parade,

bursting with song.

All the trees of the forest will join the procession,

exuberant with applause.

No more thistles, but giant sequoias,

no more thornbushes, but stately pines—

Monuments to me, to God,

living and lasting evidence of God."

"Live simply so that others may simply live..."

Read more on this thought provoking post on "Poverty" over on Finding Direction which includes a video clip, the $8 Hot Dog, worth viewing. Consider then how you should live. I firmly believe that is why God has allowed financial limitations in our lives in the past several years: to learn how to live simply so that others may simply live as said by Mahatma Gandhi; to forget what the "Joneses" think about us, and wonder how God looks upon me and the way I 'care for' my siblings in the family of God around the world.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday...

Please go to the post below "Come Fill Me Again" where I share two songs that God brought to my lips this week. Then go to Signs, Miracles, and Wonders to hear more songs that minister.
Have a blessed weekend.
Love, Sita

Come Fill Me Again...

**I am dedicating this post to my friends, Cheryl and Elaine, who have both ministered to me in the recent past. Thank you.**


The other day, I read my friend Elaine's post on "The Mirrored Truth" and it rubbed a tender wound inside of me. I so identified with what she was talking about, what she saw when she looked into the mirror. I've been told that I am a natural 'mystic' simply because of the way I can become attuned to His heart in such an intense way. I see this in Elaine as well and that is why I am drawn to her writings. Recently, I had been unearthing some of my old writings and was gripped by that time when I shared the most intimate time with Jesus. I realize now that my soul has been 'out of sorts' for a while because I miss my First Love desperately. Yesterday, I went into the prayer room at church and fell to my knees and the song that filled my lips was:





Oh, the power of His love. Let it surround you.
And would you believe that the next song to fill my lips was not a "Christian" song but words that echoed my heart to His:




Oh, yes, He filled up my senses as noone ever will.

Come fill me again, Oh Lord.
How well I remember that meditation room at York U, the skylight with the rays of heaven pouring on to me, with my guitar and my broken heart. How the warmth of the sunlight was like the warmth of Your grace, pouring over me, filling me, suffusing my senses, satisfying me, carrying me, loving me. And I loved You right back. During that time, I knew I was beautiful, simply because I knew I was Yours. Since then, I have forgotten as life pressed in on me, but no more. I am Yours and there is Noone else like You.
Lovingly yours,
Sita

Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

I just found from Amrita's blog that today is Blog Action Day, Oct.15, 2008, a day agreed on by bloggers around the world to encourage action on world issues. This year the issue is "Poverty". Since I only just found out, I found this video quickly on YouTube that is from Compassion International, speaking about sponsoring children living in dire poverty around the world. I invite you to look and listen and then ask God how you should then act. Please go to Amrita's blog for another look at poverty.



Here at this link, I found an article entitled The Bible on the Poor, which points out that the Bible contains more than 300 verses on the poor, social justice, and God's deep concern for both. Click on link to read the entire essay on a topic close to God's heart.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

My friend wrote me the other day that each morning she wakes up, she thanks God she is able to breathe and love her family for one more day. I too want to practise this heart of gratitude by daily 'celebrating this heartbeat', and especially this weekend as Canada celebrates Thanksgiving. Listen as Randy Stonehill sings "Celebrate This Heartbeat.".

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

Please go to Amy's blog at Signs, Miracles and Wonders for more songs that minister.

Testimony of a Walk-through Kind of Faith...

She was paralysed by the fear of flying. Yet the international field office was paying for her to attend the workers' conference in Indonesia with her husband. How does faith come into play? See and hear Shyamala's** testimony about how God used Beth Moore's Bible study discussion about faith to teach her here. (It may take a while to download as the video is about 22 mins. long.)
**(Shyamala is my pastor's wife and also the sister of Ravi Zacharias.)

=====================================

****There is a give-away at Melinda's Travelling The Road Home. If you know of anyone who needs a wonderful resource on post-abortion pain, visit there now.

No Drive-by Cleaning...

This morning at church was basically geared towards sharing the journey of faith through our Imagine Campaign at church. This was a 3-year commitment towards our church expansion. One man in particular spoke to my heart as I could identify with his journey. He had been unemployed and underemployed for a while and when he heard about making a pledge, he thought about a modest sum based on what he could see. He was flabbergasted when his wife came and proposed a sum 3 times the salary he had earned in the past 3 years. His response was appropriately spiritual "Are you nuts?!"

Anyway, God spoke to him, and he went ahead. Soon after, he received a small cheque from an unexpected source and thought, "OK, small cheque...small faith...". Then a little later, he received a call from a former colleague who offered him a contract worth ten times more what he had received before. "Let me think about it..YES!" He is a freelance cartoon animator and contracts end. Now what? The cycle continued. But so did the teaching of God.

He discovered his journey all had to do with cleaning up his heart of the tyranny of things, of trusting in the visible vs. the Invisible. He learnt that by global standards they were doing quite well, even though vacations meant visiting Grandma. He learnt to live simply. He learnt cleaning is not a momentary issue. God does not do 'drive-by cleaning'. His cleaning is a lengthy and painful process and requires you to come close to Him, and stay, and be ministered to. That part that is cleaned, is then polished and people can't help but see the 'shine' of God's glory.

Then in our small group discussion, it was apparent that many of us were being hit quite hard by 'financial insecurity'. I suspect that this is the tip of the iceberg. Fear is beginning to crop up everywhere with the ripple effect of the economic downfall south of the border. Do you remember who is the 'father' of fear? No other than Satan himself and he is working overtime. Now I look at how our family has struggled financially for so long and I know it is that we will know how to minister to those being hit by this. We have learnt to live 'without' much. The world has placed its hope on money. So when the money disappears, their hope dissipates. Our Hope is in God, the unchangeable One, the Miracle Maker.

In my prayer time today, I put out my hand to God and said, "What is my cup today, Lord?" And I looked at all the concerns that faced me this week and said, "Thank You, Lord. Now just do your thing!" Now is the time to stand up and not be afraid. Now is the time for the world to see Who reigns. Let us lay aside the the sins of fear, anxiety and unbelief that so easily entangles us, and let us run with abandon and perseverance the race marked out (thoughtfully planned) for us, with our eyes fixed on the joy set before us, His glory. And let us do it together. As a Body, let us uphold each other faithfully.

"Lord, Reign..Reign in my 'cup' of concerns today..reign in the cups that You have offered to Your children You placed on my heart today...show Yourself faithful all around this globe today, Lord....for Hallelujah, You Reign!"

Beth Moore on Life Today

Hey, ever wish you could hear all those Beth on Life Today episodes that you missed? Well, you can! Go here.
For those of you who are wondering, "Who?" This is Beth Moore, an anointed woman of God who has an amazing gift for teaching in a way that transforms. She is a guest speaker on James Robison's Life Today every Wednesday.
Be blessed.
Love, Sita

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

A couple of friends have just been hit with the unimaginable--and they are consumed with pain. I dedicate this song to them and to anyone who needs to feel the warmth of God's embrace right now. Please go to Amy's blog to hear more songs that minister.

Spoiled Brats

This morning, I received an email attributed to David Letterman. That same letter was attributed to Jay Leno last year. However, they are both 'edited' versions of the original essay written by Craig R. Smith which basically addresses why the rest of the world sees Americans as "spoiled brats". This is a worth read, especially for those of us who live in a bubble. Go here to read the full article. Here is the closing paragraph:

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

Father, please give me a heart of gratitude for what I am privileged to enjoy here in this country. Break my heart for those who do not have the simplest freedoms to walk, talk, worship, eat. Show me what part I have to play in Your mandate to rule and subdue the earth in a way that benefits all of humanity and gives glory to my Creator. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Contest!

There is a contest sponsored by Women of Faith and Laced By Grace to attend any 2009 WOF conference in the US with a friend. Click on the button to get more information.