Enablers

My poor Honeybun's spinal stenosis is acting up again and she can barely walk. I put the Hiphound Brace on her, which I had bought when the problem first arose. I will call the vet this morning to see what can be done. She is not nearly at the maximum dosage yet of the meds she takes, and I am hoping that just upping her medication will help her. It is so hard watching those we love suffer. I suppose God gives dogs such short lives because He knows we dog lovers would not long for heaven as much if our dogs outlived us.

Honeybun was able to take a short walk while wearing the Hiphound brace, and attend to all her potty needs. However, after our little walk, she didn't seem eager to move even for dinner. I brought her dinner to the living room where she rested. She was grateful. She is always grateful, and never complains. That makes her predicament even sadder to me. We help her, she gets better, and then sadly, because the condition is not curable, she falls back into lameness.

I came across the opposite message in my reading in Proverbs today:
Proverbs 19:19
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

So, if you help those who are inclined to sin avoid consequences, you will have to keep helping them. You will be enabling them in their sin. This dovetails well with the message in our Sunday school class this week. There is a place for righteous anger towards those who claim to be Christians and are clearly defying God's word. There is no place for enabling sin among believers. We should not compromise in what we know is righteous behavior before God.

I listened carefully in our class because this is very relevant to my work as a sidewalk counselor today at the abortion clinic. I will see many cars drive in with passengers determined to kill their unborn child. On some of the bumpers, will be stickers for churches they attend. You would be shocked at how many. There will be many mothers who will tell us that it is ok to kill their baby because God will forgive them anyway. Again, you would be shocked at how many. This can never be ignored. If we claim we love God, how can we sanction destroying His children?

"if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again...."

God forbid delivering someone out of the consequences when a so-called Christian is determined to abort. Never should we remain silent or in any way condone the murder of a child of God. Every baby is a child of God, from the moment of conception. To argue otherwise is utter foolishness and unspeakable evil. And for all of us, God Forbid that we should help those on a path to destruction by remaining silent. It is the furthest thing from love to enable the perpetuation of sin.

However, I will keep trying as long as it takes to deliver my Honeybun out of her lameness. I'll be calling the vet while standing at the abortion mill sidewalk. Please pray with me today in both situations!

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1 John 3:6-10 

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Hebrews 10:26-27 

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Too Weak to be God

We had our NC State Destination Imagination competition yesterday. I was really proud of the team I manage. They were still working on props late the evening before, and had really never had a smooth practice from start to finish before the real event. Yet somehow, they performed flawlessly, everything worked the way it was supposed to, and they came home with their first place trophy.

As we drove home, I felt like I had been awake without sleep for a year. It is good this is my last kid, the one on the DI team. I am too old for the stress of competition. There is a good reason God made the major child bearing years in one's youth. Old hearts cannot bear to watch their progeny fail.

So how does God manage? I mean, my goodness, He watches me fail nearly every hour. I know He loves me. How does He manage to keep from stepping in with continual miracles to save me from myself? This ability alone disqualifies me from deity. Allowing us to fail humbles us, and humility is critical in our spiritual development. Even knowing that, I am still glad my team didn't fail. I am far too weak to be God.

(Way to go, team!)
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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

A Spirit of Generosity

I had terrible, awful, unsolvable computer woes. I decided to do a major revision on my dog book, and all of a sudden, the word processor started doing horrific things. I could not figure how on earth to make it stop. And then, I wanted to get my google chat back, which I had not had since getting my new computer, and when I downloaded the program, a detestable virus hijacked my search bar! If you don't know what this means, I will make it simple: my computer stopped working the way it should and started working as though it were demon possessed.

This is what happens when someone with limited knowledge does things she has no business doing. Like thinking she knows more than God about how to run the world...let alone her computer.

And this is why I praise God every day for my friend Brian, who is a computer genius and besides his skill, is willing and generous with his time. I emailed Brian with something like this: HELP! IT IS AWFUL! IT IS TERRIBLE! I  HAVE RUINED NOT ONLY MY COMPUTER BUT LIKELY ALL MANKIND!!!! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Brian, within seconds, sent me a remote control request, which allows him to take control of my computer. While I sat and watched my computer screen, he worked his magic. Windows miraculously opened and closed, icons appeared and disappeared, control panels popped into view with instructions issued at the speed of light. Soon, a multitude of problems were solved and my computer was not only fixed, but better than new.

I felt as though a tornado had rushed across my screen, but instead of destruction, all was made new.

THIS is what heaven will be like.

We humans will make a total mess of Earth, even more than we have already done. Finally, God will decide He can stand it no more, and time is up. He will whisk in with some fairly nasty consequences to those who thought they knew better than He how to run the world. With massive strokes of mystical genius, He will create a new heaven and a new earth. The world as we know it will all pass away. There will be no more mourning, tears, darkness, or sin. We will all know God and our computers will no longer crash. But woe to all those who brought in malware and malicious viruses. They will be smote.

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Proverbs 1:24-33

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

1 John 5:3-5 

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Except....Can I?

The last Destination Imagination (DI) practice before the State Competition for the high school team I manage was Wednesday. Now it is in God's hands. I guess that is where it always was, but right before the contest, I am always glad  to remember that fact. My team practiced, and then loaded the van with all the props and set, ready for the weekend. Our long and arduous journey is almost at an end.

Meanwhile, another journey is beginning. I am working with one of the recent "saves" from the abortion mill, a young lady that chose life for her unborn child. She has many needs...frankly, somewhat overwhelming needs. I am learning about a whole new world, that I knew existed, but have no first hand knowledge of. It is sobering how difficult a life situation some people have to crawl out of. Again, I am grateful this situation is in God's hands. I know the Bible says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"....except....can I?

The best time to step forward in faith is when we know we do not have what it takes to succeed. I imagine that is why God so often brings us to a place where we know we cannot succeed short of miraculous intervention. It feels like cruelty while we are enduring the agony of self doubt and failure, but it is an act of infinite love and grace when we come to the place where God shows us in no uncertain terms that we are not alone. We are not left on our own. He is here, not only beside us, but within us, and His encouragements surround us. I can almost hear Him whispering, "Let go! You can do this, and if you fall, I will catch you."

One thing is for sure -- if we don't let Him stretch us and put us in those impossible places, it will be our loss. We can't know His power if we never call upon it.

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Hebrews 10:36

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

James 1:2-4 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Colossians 1:11 

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

1 Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 12:12 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Convicting

So I was sitting in the audiologist's office, watching her adjust my new hearing aids. Since she was taking quite some time, I was glancing about and noticed a tick crawling up my arm.

Wait! What!? A tick!!!!

I shook my arm and the fat tick fell on the floor.
"Quick!" I told the audiologist, "Give me something to catch him with!"
She quickly handed me a long tweezer, which is used to do something in people's ears...not sure I want to know exactly what it does. I snatched the tick between the tweezers. It squiggled and squirmed. I don't know if you have ever tried to kill a tick, but it is next to impossible. You cannot squeeze them to death. You have to cut them up into a million pieces, and then if possible, shoot the pieces into outerspace.

"Hmm," said the audiologist, gazing at the squirmy tick, "Maybe alcohol?"
"That might do it!" I said.
She returned with alcohol and a cup, but then her phone rang, and she was busy talking with the hearing aid manufacturer about how to best program my hearing aid. Meanwhile, I sat there, clenching the long tweezers while the squirmy tick was turning my stomach. I was silently praying, "Just dump the alcohol in the cup already!!!" but my prayers went unanswered.

Finally, about twenty years later, she hung up the phone and slowly poured the alcohol in the little cup. I dumped the tick in. He did a few spasmodic twitches and then drowned, presumably happy.

"Is he dead?" I asked.
"I think so," she said.
"You may want to clean those tweezers before you stick them in someone's ears," I suggested.
She nodded.
We watched the tick a few moments, who still occasionally waggled a leg.

The whole drive home, I felt ticks crawling all over me.

This is what the conviction of God regarding sin feels like for those of you who have never experienced it. It starts small. The first time you understand what a grievous assault sin is on righteousness, it seems like a tiny thing. But that tiny thing won't die in your heart. The conviction of its presence grows and grows, and you want nothing more than to shake it off, kill it, make it go away....but it will not. Soon it spreads and covers your entire being until you feel it spreading like fire across every molecule of your skin. There is nothing left to do but confront it head on, kill it while it is but one tiny thing, and be certain there are no other little sins crouching behind it.

The audiologist finished her testing complacently.
"How does it sound now?"
"Perfect," I said, eager to leave. I didn't know where that tick had come from and I didn't want to meet any more.

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Acts 24:25 

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

John 16:7-11 

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Lamentations 1:20 

“Look, O Lord, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death.

Yielded Hearts

Yesterday, I had been at the abortion mill sidewalk only a few moments when I saw a car pull up to the parking lot next door to the mill -- at the scheduling building. Most of the time, the people entering that building are the workers. I have been encouraged to call out to them as well, telling them to turn from this work that results in babies being slaughtered. So I called out to the woman who got of her car, "You don't have to do this. We have resources that can help you!"

She paused (sometimes a good sign, but often followed by a string of cuss words and me being given the finger, and sometimes threatened to have my face removed forcibly from my skull). She said something, but my hearing aids failed me. It was likely something I didn't want to hear anyway. Nonetheless, I cupped my hand over my ear.
"What did you say?" I asked.
She repeated it, whatever it was. I was pretty sure by now it was something I was not anxious to hear. I almost turned away, but then realized her face looked pained. Maybe even, crying.
"Honey, I can't hear you. Please come closer," I urged.
As she approached, I saw she WAS crying.
"How?" she asked, tears streaming down her face, "How can you help me?"
By now she was in front of me.

I held out my arms and asked, "May I hug you? We can help you."
She fell into my arms, crying.
As I hugged her, I told her we had a free ultrasound unit in the RV right in front of us. Would she like to look at her baby? Then we could show her the many resources that could help her in her decision to choose life. She nodded. I walked her to the pro-life nurses in the mobile ultrasound. Talk about a heart prepared and yielding to God!

When "K" emerged from the ultrasound, she came to me and again, her eyes filled with tears. Again I held out my arms and she drooped into my hug.
"Did you decide to keep your baby?" I whispered.
She nodded.

By now, several counselors surrounded her, and all of us offered our phone numbers, and contacts that could help her. One woman offered to give her tithes to help this sweet mama in her financial struggles to raise the baby. Another had the contact of a wonderful Christian woman in the same locale as "K" who could help this struggling new believer in her desire to walk with God. Another offered to make phone calls and help set up resources in her community. "K" didn't seem to want to leave. She stayed and talked with us a good half hour, telling us of how she planned to return the money her family had given her for the abortion. Despite her need for finances, she would not hold onto money that had been given to kill her unborn child.

Some days, it pays to get out of bed.

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If you would like to be one of the gentle counselors on the sidewalks outside Abortion Centers, go to cities4life.org, or locally, www.Charlotte.Cities4Life.org,  for more information.
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Nothing is impossible with God.  Luke 1:37

Returning Torment with Love

Yesterday I was the driver of one 2 hour leg of a two day journey to get Lacey, a Distemper Survivor, to her forever home. Lacey's story is a remarkable and uplifting one. Lacey has residual neurological effects from her bout with distemper -  a head tremor that everyone hopes will subside with time, and treatment, and love. Despite being shuttled by her past owner 100 miles to a high kill shelter where she contracted the distemper, she was taken in by a wonderful rescue group, Saving Carolina Dogs, (http://savingcarolinadogs.org ). It was touch and go for Lacey for a while. Many dogs do not survive distemper. All the other dogs in the Shelter had to be euthanized. But Saving Carolina Dogs offered to take Lacey, who though quarantined, after the quarantine period contracted the disease, and almost died. The rescue group vetted her, fostered her, and found her someone who was willing to take on the sweet pup, neurological symptoms and all, as her very own.The new owner lived two days away from Lacey's foster family. So a transport team from the Rescue Group membership was set up, all driving a couple of hours or so each to get her to her new home.

When Lacey arrived to me, she had already been traveling a day and a half. Nonetheless, she was nothing but sweetness. She greeted me, as she greets everyone, with quiet submission, tail wagging, and kisses. She was frail and tiny, like a baby deer. Her little head bobs about, particularly when she is tired or stressed, as a result of her bout with distemper. It was bobbing a good bit when she first met me. After a little while, the bobbing lessened and she was playful and sweet saying goodbye to the transport team before me. She was transferred to my car, where she quickly curled up on her bed and went to sleep for the whole drive. She could not have been a more perfect little traveler. I wished I had been offered Lacey first!

All that grief and rejection and horror in her young life, and still she looks upon every human as a friend. She will live with the terrible repercussions of some of the heartless decisions of humans for her whole life. But she bears no rancor, no ill-will, no hatred, no desire for revenge. She returns abuse with love.

A picture of Jesus. We could all use a little of Lacey in us.

Lacey reached her new owner as the second day of travel came to a close. I watched the constant instant messages and photos of her voyage, since I was one of the lucky ones on the group message blessed to have helped transport her to her new life. All of us were breathlessly watching her journey, biting our nails and praying for the moment when she would meet her new family. I knew her all of two hours, but her impact will echo much longer in my soul. Funny how every person she touched along the way had the same reaction. We all wished we had first dibs on Lacey. How could such a terrible history produce such a special dog with such a special kind of love?

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Isaiah 53:5

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Luke 6:27 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Matthew 5:44 

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Romans 12:19-21 

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:14 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

With the Wind in My Face

I took my new hearing aids kayaking. I want to test them in all situations to be sure they will fit my lifestyle. Any hearing aid that shrinks back from kayaking will never be my friend. There was a strong breeze so I headed out into the wind. This is a basic rule of kayaking 101 -- always head against the current if it is strong, or into the wind on your way out. Then when you are tired for the return trip, you have the wind and/or the current at your back.

The hearing aids did admirably. Despite the strong wind in my face (and ears) they did not blow away, nor did they whistle or make undue noise. I could still hear the osprey and geese clearly. It was not unbearable against the wind, and it was a beautiful day. I relished the time of peace and bobbing on the water, praying to God and looking at the wonder of His creation. I went further out than I usually do because it was such a gorgeous day, and I knew the wind would carry me home, strong and sturdy at my back when I turned around.

Except...it didn't. And it wasn't. At precisely the moment I turned around, God turned the wind around. I had a long trek back to the dock...now fatigued...with the wind STILL in my face. In fact, the force of the wind seemed to have accelerated. My hearing aids continued to work just fine, but I did not. I was tired, and I had not counted on the wind in my face both going and coming.

Isn't this often the way God helps us grow? We face hardships, difficulties, trials, and we admirably (if we do say so ourselves) face and overcome them. Now it is time for the pay-back, the reward, the accolades, the wind at our back.  Except, No. More hardships, more difficulties, more trials...and we wonder if we will ever make it Home in one piece. Why does God do this? Don't we deserve a break, especially after all we have endured up to this point?

I was ready to scream at the wind, but of course that is useless. Instead, I figured if I had to rest, I would rest. I had plenty of water, emergency food, and look! Since I was crawling so slowly, I had plenty of time to see what I believe was a baby osprey poke his face above the osprey nest! Even in the midst of trials, beauty and joy! I felt very proud of myself when I reached shore. I felt like I had accomplished something worthwhile, and now the next time I battle the wind for 2 hours, I will know I can do it.

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1 Peter 5:10 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Romans 12:12 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

1 Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Enough!

I got my new "completely in the canal" hearing aids. I have thirty days now to see if they change my life. If I decide they don't, I can still get my money back. While they initially felt like someone sticking their fingers in my ear, I quickly adjusted. I forget for longer periods of time that  I even have them in after just the second day of wearing them. They are very discreet, but if someone is looking for them from the side, one can tell I am wearing hearing aids. I am on the youngish side for that, but after multiple ear infections as a kid, I have moderate hearing loss and I have grown weary of straining so hard to hear what people are saying to me. I do feel a little self conscious, but after the newness wears off, I assume I will forget they are there and instead of lip-reading and guessing, I will actually know what people are saying. They are quite high-tech for such tiny devices. They will automatically adjust to the sound needs in varying environments. They even have a little warning chime to alert me when it is time to change the batteries. In my case, if they shut off because of dead batteries, it is not a terrible big deal. I hear adequately without them, but I hear well with them.

As I was driving testing out my new hearing aids with the radio, I heard a commercial for men who want to "improve their performance" in great detail. I won't go into the specifics, but this was on a radio station which families with kids listen to every day, and suddenly, I wanted to jump out of the car. Since when is this considered family fare? Since when do we become so desensitized to propriety and private matters that we don't bat an eye when these commercials air? I wish we could all wear a device called a "moral aid." It seems that many of us could use one. Something that adjusts the degradation of our values, and raises them back up to an acceptable level. We are dripping like wax into the fires of Hell, and we don't even know it. Women pull into the abortion clinic with stickers on their cars for popular new megachurches and don't even see the disconnect. Rock stars dance about with pants that droop to their knees, thinking we all want to and even more despairingly should see their underwear. Commercials from Victoria Secret look like peep shows in cheap "adult only" warehouses with no windows. What is wrong with us??? Television, video games, and movies are overwhelmingly violent and sexualized. Are we really all that morally tone deaf that we think this is good?

When are we going to collectively cry out, "Enough!" ?(ouch...I need to shout that a little more quietly while wearing my hearing aid....) The change will unfortunately not come from external props. However, we do have a 'moral aid' of sorts, but Jesus only installs Himself if we ask Him into our heart. And if we remove the 'battery' of faith, He stops working. He does give warning sounds when that battery is fading, and unlike a dying battery with my hearing aid, we ignore those warnings to our peril.

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John 10:27 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Romans 10:17 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Jeremiah 33:3 

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

John 8:47 

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Isaiah 30:21 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Reaping in Due Season

Did you hear the news about the thirty-five year old theory of "inflation" which explains how the Big Bang could have happened and still have the incongruous fact that the universe be of equal temperature? I don't  pretend to understand it but basically I think what scientists expect is if the universe expanded from a single point, then the furthest reaches of the universe should be cooler...but they are not. So a scientist named Andrei Linde thirty-five years ago proposed the theory of inflation which explains how that could happen. I think he proposed that the outer limits of speed (which today is the speed of light) have changed since those genesis days. There are some telltale ripples that he proposed would prove his theory. For thirty-five years, no one found them. Just this week, it was reported they had been found. I am sure I am incorrect in my summary of the theory -- it is likely similar to what you would read in "Origin of the Universe for Dummies." You can google it and try to understand it for yourself. It is not critical to the point of my blog. I believe God created the universe but I don't pretend to know by what mechanism He did so. The reports of this astonishing news are also refreshingly honest that none of us know how the matter appeared right before the Big Bang. Their theory proceeds from a point before which, they admit no one could prove what happened. We were not there. They do recognize that small bit of matter came from somewhere...

But now, to the point of my blog within my realm of understanding. I love the YouTube video of when Linde and his wife are told the good news. The elderly physicists clutch their hearts, and Linde asks the news bearer to please repeat it. The wife hugs the news bearer. Their astonished joy over the proof that had eluded them for 35 years is heart warming.

I had an online discussion with some wonderful pro-life friends who are also sidewalk counselors. Some of them have faithfully shown up at the sidewalks of abortion mills each week for a year or more, and have yet to know for certain that their presence turned a single woman from killing her baby. They will not stop showing up because they believe that God is directing them to do so, but nonetheless admit it would sure be nice to see definitive fruit of their efforts.

If Andrei Linde's story has any spiritual message for me and the rest of us non-Physicists, it is this. If you are convinced you have a message of truth, don't waver from it, don't give up, and patiently wait for validation. Truth will be revealed in the end. Unlike Linde, we may not all be fortunate enough to see the fruit of our efforts in our walk with God. But God sees it. And one day, we will stand before Him and I bet one of the first things He will do is tell us!

Honestly, I would rather obey Him and follow eternal Truth, with no evidence of reward on earth, than receive accolades for following a lie.

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Ephesians 5:8-11

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Galatians 6:9 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Psalm 27:1-14 

Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

Lone Rangers

I had a very disturbing dream, one of those dreams that you know is telling you an uncomfortable truth. I don't know if everyone dreams this way, but I dream in symbols. And if I wake up shortly after the dream, I usually understand what my subconscious (or perhaps God) was trying to tell me. He speaks in metaphor and parable to soften the blow.

Here's the dream:
I was throwing a baby shower for a friend. The strange thing was, she wasn't even my friend. She was a friend of my kid. So my kid and all her friends were there, but they didn't know about the shower, they didn't know to bring gifts, and they were shocked as the party unfolded. I had bought all the gifts, arranged the whole party, ordered the cake...everything. Not even the friend for whom the shower was being held knew she was going to get a baby shower. And she wasn't happy. None of the people were happy. All of them had wanted to be a part of the planning, the gift giving, the organizing...and all felt cheated of their rightful role. When asked to explain why I had done this without getting any help from the people who should have been helping, I had some lame excuse (it was probably too awful for even my subconscious to handle so I don't remember it....)

This folks, is called "standing alone." I may be a tree IN the forest, but I didn't want to be OF the forest. Now there is a positive way of viewing this. Spiritually, we are told to be in the world but not of the world. We are to stand alone if need be against evil and darkness. However, I would be lying if I pretended that is the sense I got from the dream. It is not. The dream was about a prideful, arrogant, take charge and do-it-yourself prig who ticked off everyone around her.

God didn't make us to be lone rangers. He put us in community for a purpose. He describes Christians as all "parts of the body" for a reason. Each part has a purpose, each part has a role, and each part is critical. No one stands alone. That baby shower was not mine to throw. I ruined the baby shower for the new mother. I awoke feeling like a complete louse.

I am not telling you this so you will send sweet comments about how I am really not as bad as my dream painted me to be. I am telling you this because the dream convicted me, and you would be doing me a disservice to soften the message. I am telling you this because maybe there are others out there like me who could learn from my dream. The positive message is not that we should not stand alone, but that we don't have to! What a relief! Smack-down and comfort, simultaneously.

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1 Corinthians 12:27-31 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Romans 12:4-5 

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Colossians 1:18 

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Colossians 3:14-16 

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

The Beginning of Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That's what the Bible says. I wish that applied to dogs because my dog Lucky is getting loonier by the moment. He could use a good dose of wisdom. I don't know what's going on in his head but it is not the same things going on in normal dogs' heads. So what to do? How to understand?

When I look at things with a new perspective, I can understand what I don't understand at first blush. Like abstract art. Who really gets that? But when an abstract artist titles his work, and I get a window into his soul...I sometimes get it. So maybe I just need to look at the world from Lucky's crazy perspective. If I carefully analyze his behavior from a dog's point of view, maybe I will get a window into his soul.

First blush analysis: he is crazy. Whenever any of us stand up, he follows us right on our heel. If we move quickly, he trots. If we close the door on him, when we open it, he is there waiting. If we sit down, he stands in front of us and noses whatever we are working on, while whining. If we tell him to get lost, and nudge him away, he goes to the nearest thing he can knock over...and does so. It is getting really really annoying. It is not that he is bumping into things by accident. He is purposefully causing mayhem. One of the strangest things he does is he goes into our middle bathroom and shoves the large shampoo and conditioner bottles over into the tub. For weeks I have been thinking my daughter was too lazy to place them where they belong and was just leaving them on the floor of the tub. Then I caught Lucky in the act.

Now, aside from understanding our loony dog, this whole perspective thing is important and I have been thinking about it a lot lately. If I am going to talk to others about God and convince them He is worth knowing and following, I need to do so in a way that they can understand and relate to.  I remember when I didn't know God, the Bible was ludicrous to me...the parts I could understand. Most of it, I did not understand -- it was jibberish, crazy. But when I believed in Jesus, it was like scales falling from my eyes. I understood on a whole new level, and it was the most wondrous book in the world.

How could I not have seen that? How could I not have understood the grievousness of my sin before God? How could I have ever done all the terrible things I did and all the while, God was watching?
And if God was watching all the while, how could He still love me? (That still eludes my comprehension.)

So what is Lucky telling us? I don't know. I want to know but I am as clueless as I was when I first opened the Bible and didn't know its Author personally. However, I appreciate how Lucky has made me think more deeply about speaking with others about God. One thing I know from my own perspective just as the Bible says: the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. As I pondered a dog's perspective, I noticed that Honeybun follows me from room to room as well, but less obtrusively. Since she is more subtle about it, she doesn't attract notice. She does the same thing Lucky does, but less obnoxiously. We are a pack. The pack wants to be together. For whatever reason, Lucky is concerned that his pack is not going to be there for him and needs reassurance....Like me wondering how God could still love me when He knows who I really am. Perhaps what my crazy dog needs is reassurance. I get that, Lucky. Really I do. All of us want to know we are accepted by the pack, and especially, safe in the guidance and love of the Pack Leader.

PS- the abstract art above is titled: The beginning of Wisdom.


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Proverbs 2: 3-10, 20-22

3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;

10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,

22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

A Splash of Green

I am still thawing out. Yesterday it was frigid, near freezing and raining at the abortion mill. For being at the very gates of Hell, it was awfully cold! Before, heading out for my volunteer stint as a sidewalk counselor for life, I remembered it was St. Patrick's day and put on my lime green bomber hat. I was a little worried that the look was too flippant for such devastatingly important serious work as saving babies....but decided to go with it. Green for life! And also, it was my warmest hat.

Just like the grey weather, hearts seemed bitterly hard and cold in the folks entering the mill as well. Cars zoomed by us as we tried to hand out the literature that could help them. As far as we know, only one couple left the killing place, choosing life. Don't get me wrong -- I praise God for the one. It was a single splash of green in the grey, freezing rain.

As soon as I finished my work at the mill, I was given the privilege to drive a mama to her first OB/Gyn appointment since choosing not to abort her baby. That was a blessing, and then some! Another splash of green on a dreary grey and frozen day.

Having had several c-sections already, the mama's greatest wish was that she could do a normal, vaginal delivery. We both knew that was probably impossible. Some docs will do "v-bacs" (vaginal birth after cesarean) after one c-section...but most will not attempt it after more than one. She had had more than one.
"I really want to do a vaginal birth," she said softly, in the office of the wonderful Dr. Matt.
"I know you do," said Dr. Matt. And  then, remarkably, he told us that he knew of a doc who would consider it, and he would set up the appointment for that. The mama was beaming with joy.

"Well if that wasn't a God thing, what was it?" I asked her, as we left the office.
"You are right," she told me, clutching her prenatal vitamins.

A splash of green in the grey, frigid rain!

God is like that. Everything looks so dismal and impossible, and then there is a glimmer of hope, an impossible sparkle of joy in the midst of despair, one Savior rising from the grave and everything changes.

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Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 31:24 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

1 Corinthians 13:7 

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Romans 12:12 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Prefering the Sun

Buckets of rain fell in torrents Sunday. Our yard has become a flood plain. What's worse is it is predicted to rain all day today as well...with temperatures hovering just above freezing. This is my day as a sidewalk counselor at the Abortion Mill. Not exactly the best sort of weather to stand outside for hours, but maybe it will dampen the enthusiasm of those who would venture forth to abort their babies. That would be the hidden blessing in the frigid rain.

Just two days ago, it was sunny and in the 70s. On Saturday, I had gone to my favorite river and kayaked! I am not complaining about the lovely day Saturday. Still, I admit I am not thrilled with the terrible weather today. However, the weather certainly matches the somber task before me today...at least for the first part of the morning. After lunch, God gives me a sunny reprieve. I will be meeting a mother who chose life for her baby through the help of another counselor a few weeks ago. I have the blessing of driving her to her first OB/GYN doctor appointment. 

This is a doctor I want to meet -- he stands on the sidewalks of the abortion mill himself. He urges young women to choose life, and he will deliver their babies for free. This is the doctor who pioneered the reversal of the abortion pill effects, and saved babies that remorseful mothers realized they wanted...after taking the pill that would kill their children. 

Filled with horror and guilt after taking the abortion pill, the first anguished mama was ushered to Dr. Matt, who in my mind, miraculously devised a treatment to save the baby. I may have the story wrong, but he pored over the literature, made some reasoned suppositions, and immediately devised a treatment of progesterone to counteract the pill (R486) effects.  Treatment had to be started within a day of taking the pill. It worked. The baby was born perfectly normal, and the mother now urges others not to do the terrible horror of killing their own child. 

This is a man who loves Jesus in his heart, and in his walk. This is someone who uses the gifts and advantages given him to glorify and follow the convictions in his heart of God's holy purpose for him. How many of us do that? Anyway, I just want to shake this fine man's hand.  I am hoping the mama I am driving will want me in the room with her to view the ultrasound. No rainstorm could drown that joy!

Rain and sun. Sun and rain. God brings them both. Frankly, I prefer to follow the Son, and if possible, radiate His healing warmth.

***********

Psalm 147: 3-6, 13

3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.

5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
 his understanding is beyond measure.

6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.

Jeremiah 7:3
Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place.

Be the Parade

I was on a run when I chanced upon this man walking. I screeched to a stop.
"You are adorable!" I said.
"I had to," he said laughing, "I'm Irish. but I won't be going to the parade today. You know, too hard on me at my age." (The St. Patrick's Day parade in Charlotte was Saturday morn.)
"Awwww," I said, "Well you ARE the parade!"
"That I am," he agreed, smiling.
I showed him his photo, which evinced another chuckle, and was on my way again.

I think Patrick can teach us all a very important lesson. So often, when we can't do all we should do, we don't do anything at all. We criticize and complain and find fault with those who manage to do something, but fall short...while we don't lift a finger to help. I have never been more aware of this than since I have become a sidewalk counselor in front of abortion clinics. I can't tell you how many times when I post a blog I get notes or comments  criticizing the sidewalk counseling efforts to save babies. Many are from people who have done nothing to help these mothers in crisis. You would be amazed at the number of comments suggesting that the results of saving babies results in more government dependency and poverty, thus it would be better just to kill them. I certainly didn't know before I started with cities4life how many resources are available -- private resources, not funded by government but by caring people (largely Christian!). The services do not stop after the mother makes the choice for life. There are numerous agencies that teach skills in parenting, finances, work and job skills, etc. to help these women. Any one of these agencies would gladly take volunteers, or donations. These folks who are complaining aren't volunteering or donating...they are just blasting the people who may be taking step one and two, but haven't the energy or resources to do step three.

One step is better than none. If you can't go to the big parade, be a little parade all unto yourself. Just like my new, sweet, Irish friend, Patrick.

For more information, go to cities4life.org .
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Zechariah 4:10 

For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”

Luke 16:10 

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Lifting Souls

Psalm 143

3 When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.

4 Look to the right and see:
 there is none who takes notice of me;
 no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.

I read these verses yesterday and thought how common, even thousands of years ago, these feelings are! How many of us go through periods where we feel trapped, abandoned, unnoticed, and unloved! And still, in the midst of all that angst, the psalmist recognizes that though his spirit faints, God knows his way. God lights his path through all the dark turmoil and loneliness.

My daughter, Asherel, and I  taught our monthly art class at the nursing home yesterday.  When we arrived, our entire regular group was there, and a few new ones. The tables were filled! We had a fairly easy picture to draw per their request the month before -- a basket filled with flowers. I was frankly shocked at how well they all did. Many have started adding shading, and branching far beyond the basic shape drawing we teach them. There is a burgeoning confidence in our attendees. I am astounded that 90 year olds are turning into artists.

As usual, one woman told us that "she was no artist,"  but enjoyed drawing the flowers. She reminisced about her garden and how she had always loved growing flowers, and mowing the lawn.
"Everyone has their passion," I agreed.
She told me all about the farm she used to live on, but now only her sister remained at the old homestead, living with her children.
"But my daughter stuck me in here," she added. She did not say it with rancor...in fact she was smiling. Still, I thought of  Psalm 143 and the line about being unnoticed and uncared for. I thought of how little it takes to add a bit of sunshine to dreary lives, how little to hold the despair of Psalm 143 at bay, how often God is drawing us to the sides of those who need a friend.

We listened for a long time as she told us all about her farm, and how much she loved to work outdoors. Even Asherel seemed to be listening to her tales of her tobacco farm from days long past.
"I hired someone to clean the house," she told me, "But oh, how I loved mowing the lawn! I'm not much of an artist." She glanced down at her picture she had drawn, "But this is pretty good."

She held my hand and smiled.

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Psalm 143: 7-12

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
 My spirit fails!
 Hide not your face from me,
 lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
 Make me know the way I should go,
 for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
 Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

His Lifting of Burdens

Pollen floats like dust across the sky. It has begun. My eyes are just beginning to recognize the only downside of Spring. Wait...there is another downside. Spring is when all the competitions that highschoolers are in come around. It is a whirlwind of art contests, SATs, ACTs, and DI State contest over the next few weeks. Pollen is nothing compared to the stress of spring activities with my highschooled daughter.

As I collapsed, a bit of a basket case a couple of days ago, a very Godly, wise friend reminded me of a simple truth. It is so simple that I often forget it.

We are not in control. And when we try to be, we become frantic, disillusioned, depressed, and overwhelmed. Give back to God what was never ours to take in the first place.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Just saying those words bring relief. Take it Lord! I relinquish ownership of the world  burdens. Including my....

What was that??? Just as I was writing about all my stress as the sun was just beginning to set, I heard an owl hoot its distinctive call -- "whocooksforyouuuuu?".  It was still daylight, albeit just barely. One never hears owls in the daylight, and one certainly never sees them. I went dashing outside and looked up at the tree tops.
"Whocooksforyouuuuuuuuu?" it called again.
And then, with a majestic sweep of wings, it flew from the tree above me to a neighbor's tree.

I could count on one hand the times I have seen an owl in the wild. I was so thrilled! It hooted its song several times for me while I watched it. It felt like a gift from God. I was reminded of how He is often unseen, but He is nonetheless present. And His call is distinctive and clear in the uncertain dusk. We carry so many burdens not knowing He is there, willing and able to lift them from us....and then He reminds us in sometimes subtle and sometimes spectacular ways that He is right above us. All we need to do is look up!
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Matthew 11:28-30 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Exodus 33:14 

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Jeremiah 29:13 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Acts 3:19-20 

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

White With Harvest

The Bradford pear are blooming! One day the trees were all naked, and then BAM, the next day there was an explosion of white flowers! It is a miracle, and reminds me that miracles abound every day.

Open your eyes, for the fields are white with harvest!

The profusion of glorious white blossoms will be short-lived. They quickly are blown off in the wind and rain, and replaced by green leaves. It reminds me how the time to go forth in God's word and proclaim the joy and wonder of His message is NOW! The fields are ripe for only a short time.

And if you don't know Jesus, and have not accepted His incredible gift of eternal life through His atoning sacrificial death as payment for humanity's sins....I urge you, beg you, plead with you, do so now. All creation proclaims truth. Within days, those blossoms on the Bradford Pear will be gone and the opportunity to dwell in their beauty gone as well.

*************

Luke 10:2

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

John 4:35 

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

John 3:16-17 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Walking In Another's Shoes

I slept little two nights ago. Tossed and turned thinking about S, the mama who chose life (we hoped) at the abortion mill Monday in defiance of an abusive boyfriend. I got up and notified the Tuesday team at the abortion mill to please call me if S showed up again. I would find a way to get out there. Since I was her "first contact" counselor, it seemed I should be there. However, by noon, when most people have arrived, she had not come as far as I knew. It appeared that she really had made the astonishing courageous choice for life despite the angry boyfriend. I finished my morning work, and having no call back to the abortion mill, dashed off to the river with my kayak. It was near 80 degrees and sunny. God was calling me to the river just as clearly as the day before, He had called me to the abortion mill sidewalk.

I was the only one on the river. It was perfectly smooth, nothing ruffling the surface. Silence reigned, save for the call of osprey, and one particularly noisy nest that I think must have been full of babies! After the very hard day at the abortion mill dealing with the mama who wanted to choose life and the violent boyfriend who was forcing her to ignore her conscience, I needed those still waters. I had cried off and on much of the day before. Now the river offered to comfort with the peace and assurance of God's presence in all creation.

I skimmed along praying, and then singing hymns. It was so restorative. Along one bank covered with trees, I saw at least a dozen great blue herons in nests on the treetops. They all watched me float by, their beautiful necks curved in graceful S's. Since there was not a soul on the water, I sang loudly. The few turtles I saw watched me too, and seemed unconcerned that my voice was a little hoarse from my constant shouting out to S at the abortion mill yesterday.

When I returned to the shore, I found a pair of expensive Birkenstock sandals floating in the water. I retrieved them, and put them on. They fit! I walked in them up the bank to my car.

It is important now and then to walk in someone else's shoes, I thought. When I sent out the article on my experiences with S at the abortion mill yesterday, I got a slew of comments from many of the sites where I posted it. It amazed me how wrong so many assumptions are regarding sidewalk counseling. If only they had walked in my shoes....I thought! A common refrain was fear that we convinced the woman to keep the baby, and then left her all alone. They were clueless about the vast network of services that not only Cities4life offers the woman, but most of the committed sidewalk ministries offer to support and help the woman and her child over the long run. It is easy to try to support the pro-abortion movement by ignoring the facts that might change one's mind....

Of course, to put the shoe on the other foot...we hear over and over again at the abortion mill, "You don't know my situation!!" That is true. We all accede that is true. But what we do know is that there are guiding principles, values that should remain no matter what the circumstance. One of those is the sanctity and value of human life. Every human life is of equal value before God and therefore, should be so for us as well. In response to my blog, at one site I had an extended "debate" with a man who was pro-abortion, and his primary argument was that the fetus was not human.

This one has always perplexed me. Not human? What is the fetus...a fish?  In fact, I asked him that but he didn't answer. He just sent me a picture of a worm and noted that a worm has DNA, so if unique DNA defines personhood, then my logic was flawed. (?)  I told him the worm DNA would never direct the worm to grow up to be a human, yet the DNA in the developing baby would always direct the baby to develop as a human. Then he moved on to other arguments.  I won't go into them here. I am sure you have all heard them, but he kept trying to "trip me up" with varying circumstances in which I might change my mind about the value of life.

"I am not a relativist," I told him, "I will never deviate from my premise. All human life is of inestimable value, all equal in the eyes of God, and all with inalienable right to life. That doesn't change with the situation. It is true in every situation."

Nothing could change that core conviction since I now know God, and the incredible gift of life He created. No, I don't know all the circumstances of those young woman who want to kill their baby, but I do know that out of adversity, miracles often abound. I also know that one cannot ignore their conscience for very long before it will eat them from the inside out. And most importantly, I know God can do all things, but our lack of trust, obedience to His word, and faith limits His impact in our lives.

I kicked off the Birkenstock sandals and placed them on the concrete parking lot, near where I had found them, so they could dry in the sun. They were a little small for me anyway. I hoped the owner would find them.

*************

Genesis 1:27 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Jeremiah 1:5 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Genesis 2:7 

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Romans 13:8-10 

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Psalm 138:
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

For You Who Claim Empowerment of Abortion

This post is for those of you that believe abortion "empowers" women. This post is for those of you who feel that abortion gives a woman "choice" over her own body. This is for those of you who think that the abortion sidewalk counselors are bullies, preying on anguished women.

Yesterday, only moments after I arrived at the abortion mill, I saw a young lady on the phone, sitting on the sidewalk in front of the mill. I smiled, and beckoned to her with my hand. I could not believe it when she stood up, as though pulled by an invisible thread moving towards me.

As she came close, I heard her last words to the person on the phone, "I am about to make the most horrible decision of my life."
"You don't have to," I said, touching her shoulder.
I asked her name, and told her my name, and the counselor's name beside me.
"We can help you," I said, "How far along are you?"
"19 weeks," S replied.
Instantly, I thought of the little 19 week model I had made just a couple of weeks ago. I pulled the little clay baby from my bag.
"This is what your baby looks like," I told her.
She burst into tears, and held out her hands. As she cried, she cradled the little baby in her palms.
"Would you like our free ultrasound?" asked Celia, the other counselor.
S nodded, and walked with us. While Celia talked with the ultrasound nurses, I asked S if this was her first baby. It was not. She did not want to abort the baby, but didn't know what else to do.
I opened our little pamphlet of resources and showed her the list of services that could help her. I gave her my phone number and told her if she needed any help to call.

We reached the ultrasound unit, and she was still clutching the baby model.
"Do you want to keep it in there?" I asked. She nodded.

While S was in the ultrasound, a young man was walking frantically around the parking lot, on his phone. His phone was not receiving a signal and he approached us, asking if we had a phone he could use.
"Do you need it to call a woman out of that abortion center?" I asked.
"No," he said angrily. I offered him our literature but he brushed me away, telling me to leave him alone. Celia caught my eye, and I realized he was looking for S, and I also knew this man was pushing for the abortion. I did not offer him my phone.

Unfortunately, some other people gave him a phone, and he found out S was in the free ultrasound RV. He knocked, and they let him in. We counselors prayed that when he saw the image of his baby, his heart would change. When the couple emerged, I hurried to S.
"What did you decide?" I asked.
"I am going to keep the baby," she said.
The man exploded. He told me to leave them alone and stop talking to her. He grabbed S's arm and tried to drag her to the abortion clinic.
"Leave me alone!" she told him, "These people want to help me!" Later the RV nurses told me she had told them that she praised God we had been there to stop her from making an awful decision she did not want to make.
She still clutched the little model I had made. I asked her,"Do you want to keep that?"
She nodded.
"It is my gift to you," I said. I knew God had prompted me to make the model, and He had known all along that S would need it. As the man shrieked at me, I stuffed the cities4life pamphlet in S's hand, "My number is in there, too!" I told her.

The man screamed at her, and screamed at us, while continually grabbing S's arm and trying to pull her to the clinic. All the counselors now had gathered and told her she did not need to go with him.
"He cannot force you to get an abortion!!!" I cried, "You can refuse. Come to us, we can help you. We will take you anywhere you want to go." All of us urged S to come to us, to walk away, to NOT go in the clinic against her desires.

The man cajoled and pulled her towards the clinic, but she refused to go in. He got her to go with him to his car, parked around the side of the clinic. Do we call the police? None of us were sure. He had not struck her, but in my eyes, she was being abused and I feared for her should she leave with him. While the other counselors talked with the RV staff about whether to call the police, I ran to a neighboring business with a hill that overlooked the side of the property where the car was parked. I set my camera to video, fearing he was beating her up in the car.

I videotaped from the hill. I could hear him screaming at her as her car door was still open. Through the window I could see that he would forcefully put his arm around her and yank her towards him. Finally he got out of the car, glanced up and saw me.
"I don't care if you videotape! She is my future wife!"
"And you are about to kill your future child!" I shouted, "Something she doesn't want to do and will regret the rest of her life."
"We all have regrets!" he shouted.
"But you don't have to!" I pleaded.
S got out of the car, and moved away from the man, telling him not to scream at me, that I was helping her. I called to her several times, telling her it was illegal for him to force her to enter that clinic or submit to an abortion she didn't want. I urged her to run to us. He grabbed her arm then, and tried to pull her to the front door. She yanked her arm away. I got that on tape, and knew I had enough to call the police. S called out to me that she was just going to get her ID from the clinic and then she would leave.

They walked in through the front door of the clinic. I dashed back to the other counselors and called the police. They arrived shortly afterwards and looked at my video. They listened to our description of what we all had witnessed, every one of us convinced this was an abusive situation. The police went in, and shortly after, the man came out. The police were apparently talking to S for some time. Meanwhile, another counselor was on the microphone, pleading with the man to do what was right in the eyes of God.

When the police came out about a half hour later, they told me that S had said she had not been forced, and she didn't want to press charges. There was nothing the cops could do. Even with all of our certainty and testimony and video that S was indeed being forced, and was a victim of domestic abuse. As we stood in front of the mill, all of our hearts breaking, Celia approached me and I sobbed my heart out. S didn't want the abortion. She wanted the baby. She had told all of us she wanted the baby. There was so much cities4life could have offered her, including a safe place to stay.

THIS, you pro-abortion people is what has happened. You have empowered not the women, but the men who prey on women. S had a choice, but it would take a very courageous woman to stand up to the anger and violence of the man that she has so sadly placed herself under the power of. And that is not even to mention the sex traffickers, who force the young women they hold in sexual slavery to abort the product of their trade! Abortion increases the potential for the abuse of women, and scars them for life when their conscience shrieks at the violence imposed upon their own child.

A few minutes later, S and the man came out. Had it been enough time for the first day measures of the two day procedure a 19 week abortion requires? We didn't think so. As they pulled out of the driveway, I called out to S, "Honey, are you ok?"
She rolled down the window, "We didn't do it."

We don't know if that is true or not. We know she was being bullied by pure evil, and may have been saying what he told her to say. I ask all of you to pray for S and the precious life within her. And if you have been pro-abortion up till now, I beg you to reconsider your stance. Come stand on the sidewalks of the abortion mill and witness the anguish of those who don't want an abortion but are being forced by powerful men in their lives, mothers, and even grandmothers ... while the woman wants what God created every woman to want: to nurture and love the fruit of her womb.
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to help this front-line ministry, please go to cities4life.org

Isaiah 49:15 

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Psalm 127:3 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

James 1:14 

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Revelation 21:8

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

John 8:32 

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Titus 1:15-16 

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Jude 1:18 

They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”