Category Archives: God

the gift

One year ago today I received one of the best gifts …..the gift of sight! I was terrified at the possibility that something could go wrong with my surgery, and yes I had some bad complications and suffered for a few weeks, but now my vision is so good and I no longer need those super strong contacts or glasses and can see everything the moment I open I my eyes.  I am so grateful to have been able to have this procedure for so many reasons. It will be so amazing especially with a baby on the way that when he/she wakes up several times during the night, I can immediately SEE him/her and take care of him/her without feeling around for my glasses or trying to fiddle with putting in contact lenses.  Despite all the complications I had, I would so do this again, and almost wish I had done it many years ago.

Going to make sure to look at everything today with eyes wide open, thanking God for the beauty all around me.

 

What gift are you most thankful for lately?


Weekly Photo Challenge : CELEBRATION

In keeping with the upcoming holiday, I thought it fitting to post a picture of my Willow Tree nativity set, not because I love it and am so happy to have finally gotten all of the figurines for it and being able to display it in my apartment, BUT because of what it really represents:  the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for whom we CELEBRATE Christmas.


Weekly Photo Challenge : BROKEN

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  PSALM 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. PSALM 147:3

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. PSALM 51:17

This week’s photo challenge topic resonated with me as more of a feeling, than of an object that was broken, like a broken plate or broken lamp.  I am a broken person.  WE are all broken people, in some way, shape or form, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually.  For me, personally, I find my strength, hope, and completeness through Jesus.  Though there are countless times that I struggle daily with my own self, it is only when I truly and fully surrender myself at my most, broken and vulnerable state, can He work through me and change me.

This picture is of a boy I had worked with in a group home that was for abused and neglected children.  Talk about a representation of someone who was truly broken on the inside.  Yet even he knew he could go to Jesus, to be healed of his brokenness and find strength daily.


Elephant Surrender

Today is Sepia Scenes Wednesday, where you submit a photo with sepia tones.  Because I love elephants, I had to post this one (even though I have previously posted live elephants).  I took this one last weekend in Hollywood.  Outside of the Kodak Theater, there are these huge elephants on top of these enormous pillars.  When I looked at this picture, I felt like the elephant was raising his arms saying, “I surrender!”.  I have had a crazy week at work and it has only been 2 days.  I felt that this elephant could be representing me, telling God, and everyone else, “I surrender!”.


Now what’s he going to say

Harold Camping predicted that yesterday, 5/21/11, the world was going to end; that those who believed in Christ would be raptured (taken to heaven) and then God would unleash his powers on the rest of the world until the world comes to its end in October 2011.  Clearly, that did not happen.  The Bible states in Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  So I really don’t know why or how this man thought he could use mathematical equations to make this prediction.

I can only imagine what was going through this man’s mind last night and then today.  I assume he shut himself off from the rest of the world and his thousands of angry/confused followers.  It was reported today that he finally spoke this:

“I’m looking for answers,” Camping said, adding that meant frequent prayer and consultations with friends.

“But now I have nothing else to say,” he said, closing the door to his home. “I’ll be back to work Monday and will say more then.”

Because of the wrong prediction of Harold Camping, many of his followers have quit their jobs, sold everything they have, and even spent all their money in preparation for the doomsday. And now, most of them are broke, confused, and left hanging.

Another irreparable effect is how most “Christians” are being hounded with jokes and ridicule by Atheists nationwide. Some people were even forced to defend their faith in public places because of this widespread failed prediction.

I’ll be curious to see how he handles this situation and tries to explain why we are all still here.

Did any of you believe his prediction?  Did you do anything to commemorate the world ending and/or not ending?


Kids say the darndest things…about church

My grandmother forwarded this to me yesterday and I thought it was too cute so I wanted to share it with you all:

A little boy was attending his first wedding.
After the service, his cousin asked him,
“How many women can a man marry?”
“Sixteen,” the boy responded.
His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly.
“How do you know that?”
“Easy,” the little boy said.
“All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said,
4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”


After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly
announced to his mother,
“Mom, I’ve decided to become a minister when I grow up.”
“That’s okay with us, but what made you decide that?”
“Well,” said the little boy, “I have to go to church on Sunday anyway,
And I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell, than to sit and listen.”

A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord’s Prayer at a church service,
“And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash
against us.”


A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon.
“How do you know what to say?” he asked.
“Why, God tells me.”
“Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?”

A little girl became restless as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on.
Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered,
“Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”


Ms. Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their
favorite Bible stories.
She was puzzled by Kyle’s picture, which showed four people on an airplane,
So she asked him which story it was meant to represent.
“The Flight to Egypt ,” was his reply.
Pointing at each figure, Ms. Terri said, “That must be Mary, Joseph,
and Baby Jesus.
But who’s the fourth person?”
“Oh, that’s Pontius – the pilot!”

The Sunday School Teacher asks,
“Now, Johnny, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?”
“No ma’am,” little Johnny replies, I don’t have to. My mom is a good cook.”

This is the best one.

A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a
bedtime story.
From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up
to touch his wrinkled cheek.
She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again.
Finally she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.”
“Oh,” she paused, “Grandpa, did God make me too?”
“Yes, indeed, honey,” he said, “God made you just a little while ago.”
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed,
“God’s getting better at it, isn’t he ?”

Do you have any funny stories you have heard kids say related to church?