Hard to Fight the Light

Even the Bible verses I post on my blog are out to pull me from the funk-i-tude I'm in. Today's verse (in case you don't actually GO to my blog and see these great verses!):

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." Philippians 2:14-18 NIV

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Lord - thanks for the reminder than I need to strive to be a pure child of yours - and therefore must be thankful for all things, even when they aren't the dreams and hopes I asked You for. Your ways are not my ways, but your plans for me are to help me prosper and make me thrive. Thank you for remembering me and for caring in all things.

A serious DUH moment!

I was sitting here writing calmly in my blog about nothing and wondering what I could do to add more to it. I mean, after a year of writing (year, really 1 year this month - WOW!) I should have something NEW to add in here. And, I had the quintessential DUH moment (picture me in Homer drag smacking my forehead...).

Please note a few things and I'm sure you'll see where I'm heading here...

• My user moniker is "christian mom"
• The name of this blog is "Reason and Light" with light referring to God.
• I have biblical quotes assaulting you as soon as you hit the site.
• I try to post uplifting, positive posts and requests for comments/help when I am out of my own happiness.
• Swearing is definitely not allowed in here, with the worst thing I've really said being "butt".
• Moments for Myself quotes that are usually about God or the peace of spirituality.

And, with all this in mind, you will not see a single REAL Prayer Request in this blog. WHAT?? Seriously? I do have some posts for "power of prayer" but no real, outright requests. For me, for family, for close friends, for world leaders - for anything or anyone. Really? goofy girl...

So, for my initial prayer request, I'm going to point you to my young friend Katlyn....

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Katlyn has been ill for sometime (several YEARS in fact) and will be going to the Mayo Clinic this Saturday with her mom, Tina. [Background: Tina and I worked together just before the boys were born. She and her family, especially her daughters, brought me back to God and to Cedar Ridge Christian Church, so this whole family is very important to me and my family!]

Please pray for Katlyn and Tina as they travel to Minnesota for an undetermined period of time to hopefully get answers and healing. May God bless their time together as mother and daughter as well. Also, please pray for Bil and their other children as they remain in KC and await answers from here (which might be even harder). Please pray for the doctors and nurses as well as the testing technicians - anyone who will come into contact with this amazing young woman and have a hand in her diagnosis - and pray that y at least find a REASON for her illness, if not an outright cure.

You can check out more of Katlyn's story at her Caring Bridge site. You might sign her guest log and let her know you are praying as well - even if you don't know her!

Life is Short...Get a what???

I was rather disappointed in Americans - lawyers especially - when I read this story. Apparently, this law firm feels that not only is it okay to advertise that they're divorce lawyers (can you say "ambulance chasing?"), but it apparently feels the need to advocate for divorce as well!

Personally, having been married for 10+ years, and being a Christian woman, I have a serious problem with this ad. Not the people in it - heck I've seen worse than that. It's the message in there. Basically saying that when things get tough, just move on. Heaven forbid you take your marriage vows seriously and keep trying to make it better. Prayers couldn't help at all, huh? Trusting God has a plan would just be wrong, right?

Anyway, I could go on for a long time here, but I'll let you decide for yourself. BTW - there's a Survey on their link. When I took it, the results at the time were 49% Yes to being offensive, 51% No. That just made me even more sad...

(oh - in case anyone feels the need to use the words "hypocrite" or the like... yes - I freely admit that I did get a divorce. And sometimes I wonder why I got remarried. But, I did get remarried - to the same guy I divorced. And short of a disaster befalling my family, we're in it for the long haul. 10+ years is hard to give up just because "life is short"!)

Twister

This post is in memory and honor of the victims of the Greensburg, KS tornado that hit last Friday. I've re-written this post several times and everything just sounds trite or inappropriate in light of the subject matter. So, to simplify matters, I'm removing myself from the story and simply posting pictures and a link. Do what with what you will - personally, I'm simply praying for them all right now.

All photos above are credited to Jaime Oppenheimer/The Wichita Eagle.
More photos can be seen here and here.

Divine Guidance

OK - so the boys and I did the whole KidStuf and church thing on Sunday. And Lord - I need my day back for myself!

I'm not saying my boys were rude or loud or anything. They were just being 5-yr old boys - bored to death when a grown-up talks for more than 2 seconds.

And trying to get them to their own classroom during church - forget it. Although, they had a very sweet reason to sit through adult church instead of children's class - they wanted to stay with mom. "We don't get to spend enough time with you."

Crud.

So - what's a mom to do? This was my recharge time - so I could spend time with them throughout the week without biting their heads off. Here we are on Tuesday and I can't tell you how many times I blew up at them since Sunday. And I know it's because I didn't have my downtime - my personal God time.

So - what's a mom to do? Leave her kids at home where they get further from a God-relationship or take them with her and let it effect our relationship because I'm stressed? Neither is good. So, prayer. That should help. Here's mine for this week - almost like a mantra, to be said over and over and over again!

Lord,

Please give me the guidance to know what's YOUR will for us all. Please help me to stay calm and peaceful with them in all things, with or without my own "downtime". Guide me in all things to do what's best for your kids. Encourage their budding questions. Help me remember that they are YOURS and to do my best to return them to you healthy, happy and biblically-wise.

Amen.

Memphis miracle changes single mom's life

SPECIAL REPORT -- Can a single action by one person change a life or perhaps touch others who don't even know you? It did for a Memphis woman who was out of job and a home. Yet she still made a small church offering that resonated with others in a way no one could have expected.

"I explain it as God's goodness. I don't know what they explain it as. I believe he does supernatural wonders cause I'm one of those supernatural wonders," says Porche Ward.

Porsche Ward, 33, is a single Memphis mom who knows the power of prayer can mean miracles even during the darkest of days.

"My son has asthma and there was just so many things, one after another -- bills, him being sick and me being sick and I just couldn't hold a job. I never wanted a job. I wanted a career and it got to the point when I thought maybe my kids should go live with their father," says Ward.

Times were tough for Porsche -- no job, a sick child, a lot of bills and she'd lost her apartment. But she never lost her faith and her commitment to do her individual part in making a 'small' offering at Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church.

That offering, unknown to her, would forever change her life in a 'big' way.

Read the article...