tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33067079877179907762024-02-07T16:11:55.695-08:00Kissed by the CreatorKissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-30984662140502716072011-07-11T05:16:00.000-07:002011-07-11T05:16:21.462-07:00Blog updated!Check out the latest! <br />
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I’ve updated my blog with information about woodpeckers, God, Concussions etc. The blog is essentially about our journey through brain trauma with Hannah and how God created us so intricately. <br />
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Yes, we began pondering brains of woodpeckers during Hannah’s convalescing with her concussion. One decided to move into our backyard and peck our deck. It’s all good though.<br />
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Read about what we discovered here, and how God is amazing!<br />
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http://kissedbythecreator.com/?p=168Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-843039132066422402011-06-18T03:26:00.001-07:002011-06-18T03:26:24.617-07:00Tribute to Father's DayCome check out the latest! <br />
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http://wp.me/p1sPmJ-2x<br />
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And don't forget to change your rss feed to <a href="http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/">http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/</a>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-34119537058406819772011-05-24T09:41:00.000-07:002011-05-24T09:41:01.794-07:00Go check out the latest!"http://kissedbythecreator.com/?p=123"Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-74989180684739912942011-05-13T11:19:00.000-07:002011-05-13T11:19:54.296-07:00WE HAVE MOVED!Please check out the new blog site at <a href="http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/">http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/</a>.<br />
The webmistress adequately captured the Natural vibe I was looking for! Yeah!<br />
The "Lessons of Wilderness" is the topic. <br />
Be sure to switch your RSS feeder so you don't miss out on future "Kissed by the Creater" updates.<br />
Have a blessed day!Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-73942495203389996482011-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:002011-03-31T17:44:07.108-07:00Do you have a "fooljita" Scale?Howdy!<br />
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I invented a new word in my blog update over at Word Press. We are in the process of creating a site over there, but you'll find my blog over there now. Why not hike on over and check it out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_0CrJVymCsiS4Srid7tixSw6RuaWZNFklKdB_0SIdaylu8fCsJWhybTRiPfmcu_TqRRBwAnrgMMGDQR51mK4Jjm51T6HRpwvWOQSJ4K66Re736zKWeezU4VdbF4rMLbmb0KXXKviPko/s1600/RCT+Bull+Creek+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_0CrJVymCsiS4Srid7tixSw6RuaWZNFklKdB_0SIdaylu8fCsJWhybTRiPfmcu_TqRRBwAnrgMMGDQR51mK4Jjm51T6HRpwvWOQSJ4K66Re736zKWeezU4VdbF4rMLbmb0KXXKviPko/s320/RCT+Bull+Creek+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We don't want to lose ya when we move!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
Connie Pilston Shoemaker<br />
Kissed by the CreatorKissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-53396172433411148042011-03-22T09:45:00.000-07:002011-03-22T09:55:18.832-07:00A is for AdvocateOne can hardly read a news story without seeing the word advocate. In our area the natural gas companies are pushing to drill through the copious deposits of Marcellus Shale. The process of “fracking” is thought to contaminate ground water thus threatening our environment.<br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are advocates for a myriad of causes. Nature advocates lobby for practices to protect the ecosystem. Rachel Carson of “Silent Spring” fame one of the most famous in our area.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My mother and her husband are advocates for the Monarch Butterfly. They retreive the eggs before the Milkweed is sprayed with chemicals and hatch them and set them free. Any given season they protect and launch between 300 and 600 Monarchs a year. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last month in the Emergency Room the nurses were not listening or just not hearing that my husband was losing consciousness. His warning that the room was spinning, he could no longer hear and things were getting dark were not heeded. I had to step in and in one motion elbow nurse out of way, lower the bed with my foot and catch him on the way down before he pitched headlong onto the floor. I was his patient advocate. When his pain reached critical levels I was the one that tore the nurses from their dialog to increase his meds interceding on his behalf.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Several years ago I was in a courthouse lobby with a bible praying for a mom who faced lawyers and judges as they decided the fate of her children during a brutal custody battle. I became a court appointed advocate to accompany the children on their paternal visits.</div><br />
Everyone needs an advocate. The word ADVOCATE has been on my heart so I began to research it.<br />
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Initially I looked to the Bible for my definition and learned that in Greek , the word translated as 'advocate' in some versions such as KJV - parakletos - is also translated as 'comforter' in verses : John 14 : 16, John 15 : 26, and John 16 : 7. <br />
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This word advocate often refers to the Holy Spirit.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">John 14:26 (NIV)</div><br />
Looking at the dictionary the definition says <strong>Advocate: a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor</strong><br />
Equally impressive are the synonyms listed: <strong>Synonyms: champion, proponent, backer, counselor, counsel </strong><br />
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The purpose of all this “<em>advocate</em>” pondering became real this morning. <br />
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I found myself this morning with a word on my heart. <strong><em>“May you have peace joy and hope! God has a plan.”</em></strong> And while I thanked God for the peace this gave me I was still stirred in my spirit that maybe it wasn’t just for me. I shared it with some of my friends by going through my twitter follower list and when I felt the nudge, I shared the words with them. I was not prepared for the response and the opportunity it afforded me to pray or intercede for those who received the word for them.<br />
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We all need an advocate and we are often called to be one. I posted the query, "what is an advocate" and the responses all spoke of 'standing in the gap' for someone. <br />
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</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>– Proverbs 31:8</em></strong></div><br />
And sometimes that means praying for someone when they can no longer find words.<br />
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Those who know me well, know that if they ask me for prayer, that I “<em>stop, drop and pray</em>” Followers on twitter or Facebook see actual prayers in response to a plea for prayer, not just a “sure I’ll keep you in my prayers”. How often do we say “prayin’ for ya” but get caught up in our stuff and forget? How many of us have forwarded an email or retweeted a prayer request and that’s as close as we got to actually praying? <br />
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Taking on the role of an advocate can yield a bounty of blessings for both parties. When our Advocate calls us to be one for someone else, we need to act. If you have put it off, today is a new day. Step into your role of Advocte, a title with responsibility - you are in good company.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder:</strong> Who can you be an advocate for today? How is our “Advocate” encouraging you to move?<br />
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FYI My Blogs are being changed over next week to <a href="http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/">http://www.kissedbythecreator.com/</a> so you might want to update your RSS Feeds<br />
<div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-59212345124174625982011-02-25T19:03:00.000-08:002011-02-25T19:03:37.051-08:00Fool’s Gold (Guest Blogger)Guest Blogger: Pastor Chris Gibbs of CrossWay Church<br />
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"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men" (Mark 7:8).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsBj2REaQSARevSOlGcNostIncGRFLMONpQVXxBMqd1AlUpg_C4tMA45XpUoxN-aDbeGvNJHnlhq3AndQ0IsmwFACg4VoFDwB0YRmBjCb4duqXLhXepufSdOkuoNNrR2F-obRshgm6YI/s1600/pyrite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsBj2REaQSARevSOlGcNostIncGRFLMONpQVXxBMqd1AlUpg_C4tMA45XpUoxN-aDbeGvNJHnlhq3AndQ0IsmwFACg4VoFDwB0YRmBjCb4duqXLhXepufSdOkuoNNrR2F-obRshgm6YI/s200/pyrite.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In the late 1840's, the Gold Rush was in full swing. Everyone was eager for the certain riches and wealth, prestige and success that would come from discovering the life-changing powers of gold. What many people found, however, was not gold, but was pyrite, knows as "fool's gold." They found this with excitement, abandoned their search any further and went about to trade this "treasure" in for the life-change they were dreaming for. To their great disappointment, they found that what they had only "looked like" what they were really seeking. They had settled for a fake.<br />
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The Pharisees, like many in our current society, were more focused on the the disciples of Jesus did not fit into their traditional and "acceptable" mold. They had traded seeking the face of God, the true gold, for seeking the praises of men, and judging every man against the standard of appearance. They judged Jesus' disciples' hearts based on how they followed traditions, rather than how they followed God. They equated godliness with appearance, ritual, and tradition.<br />
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It is so easy to get caught up in the trends and styles and leave the commandment to worship God alone. He IS the true gold. Everything else is a fool's copy. Styles are not my god. Traditions are not my god. Opinions of people are not my god. Jesus IS my God. I live my life to honor Him. He is the One who matters to me and how I live each day.<br />
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If we live each day this mindset, we will live blessed with Jesus. He is more valuable than gold, silver, and precious rubies. Our minds and hearts must be set on Him. Be encouraged today to seek Him, not to settle for anything less than the One, True, Living, and Loving God!!<br />
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You can read more here <a href="http://www.chrisgibbs.net/">http://www.chrisgibbs.net/</a>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-19121941183146504682011-02-21T08:24:00.000-08:002011-02-21T08:24:09.926-08:00Wind of HOPERecently our town was buffeted by winds of more than 40 MPH for several days. As I lay in bed waiting for the roof to be ripped off, I thought when will it tire? How much wind is there?<br />
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This wind was relentless it just kept coming as if the supply was infinite.<br />
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I looked outside and could not see the wind during the day or night.<br />
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The wind was invisible but the results the next morning were tangible. Recycling bins had toppled spewing forth plastics from blocks away. Branches and sticks laden with buds were strewn across the yards like tombstones marking the death of the tender leaves that would never see spring.<br />
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Hope is like that. You can’t see it with your eyes or touch it with your hands. But hope or the lack of it leaves tangible evidence. It is amazing that the presence or lack of something so intangible can be <u>so</u> significant in our lives.<br />
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Martin Luther said, <strong><em>“Until a person experiences suffering, he cannot know what it means to hope.”</em></strong><br />
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What does the Bible say about hope? In Hebrews 6:19 the NKJV it says:<br />
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<strong><em>This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil…</em></strong><br />
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The Bible refers to HOPE as our anchor, but what’s more, it says that HOPE allows us to enter into the presence of God. Since the Lord's presence is where all the treasure and life-giving, life-sustaining power is - that is where we need to be. We need to maintain our hope.<br />
Herman Melville said, <strong><em>“Until we learn that one grief outweighs a thousand joys, we will not know what Christianity is trying to make us.”</em></strong><br />
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Worse than whatever pain we are dealing with or crisis we are experiencing is that hopelessness that comes with a sense that there is no purpose or value to the pain.<br />
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</tbody></table>Sorrow can cause our prayers to cease. We begin to doubt and ask “How can a good God allow anything so bad?”<br />
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Sometimes in these situations, holding on to hope requires that we let go of EVERYTHING else.<br />
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The Bible records several examples of prayers that were not answered the way the petioner hoped. First, we have the family of Lazarus who prayed he would not die. He died. But Jesus eventually raised him from the dead, giving GOD bigger Glory and building the faith of many. We have Paul who prayed fervently 3x to have the “thorn in his side” removed. It never was, yet this man went on to have a successful ministry and his perseverance has given countless Christians hope. Then we have Jesus, the son of God, who prayed to have “the cup removed” from him prior to his death. It was not removed. God allowed his son to be tortured and killed which resulted in our Salvation and eternal life.<br />
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So when we are enduring, it really might not be about us. It could be about giving others HOPE to endure and believe in a God who’s strength they see lived out as we walk out our grief.<br />
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How do we hold on to our hope when the storm comes? I believe it has a lot to do with what we do when times are good. Building our relationship with Christ through daily prayer and study of His Word creates a foundation with deep roots which can anchor us when the storms come.<br />
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<strong><em>"In my deepest wound, I saw your glory and it dazzled me."</em></strong> ~ Augustine<br />
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No one could probably relate more to deep wounds than Joseph in the Old Testament. Few innocents endured more pain and suffering than Joseph. He was sold, beaten, imprisoned, falsely accused, and imprisoned again. But his twelve years of trials put him in a position where he could spare a nation from starvation AND bless his own family. There are no pity parties recorded as he faced his trials.<br />
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One of my favorite Hymns is “It is Well with My Soul” the story behind it is amazing. Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy businessman who lost his only son to illness and then much of his wealth in a fire in Chicago. He and his family scheduled a trip abroad to recover from their heartbreak. His wife and four daughters set sail before him. The ship they were sailing on was broadsided by a tanker and sunk within ten minutes. The cable he received from his wife said, “Saved Alone”. It was on his way to his wife that he passed the spot in the sea where his four daughters perished - and there above the dark waters during the darkest of his days he penned the words:<br />
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<em>When peace like a river, attendeth my way,</em><br />
<em>When sorrows like sea billows roll;</em><br />
<em>Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,</em><br />
<em>It is well, it is well, with my soul.</em><br />
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<em>Refrain:</em><br />
<em>It is well, with my soul,</em><br />
<em>It is well, with my soul,</em><br />
<em>It is well, it is well, with my soul.</em><br />
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<em>Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,</em><br />
<em>Let this blest assurance control,</em><br />
<em>That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,</em><br />
<em>And hath shed His own blood for my soul.</em><br />
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Why was Horatio able to withstand such tragedy? He was connected with the Creator. We grow relationships by interacting. The relationship with our Creator is also forged by interaction. Daily interaction in the form of prayers and study of his word, helps us form a foundation that is not easily shaken. <br />
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He becomes our anchor and what we tether ourselves to when the storm hits. <br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder: What are you tethered to? Where do you place your hope? When the storm comes, will you be ready?</strong>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-91737360499268729332011-02-09T11:49:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:49:49.644-08:00Power of a Name<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5jFicJHO97yJTBt9YEIqKYy7twFRD7jGyf-VBzSZKUm_E61Pu-8Gno7SVVurreuiHU-agDWc0emEQ2MoR3YVvzd7b4vikN3od77ZVkyBdOLPty6yaWx1e8-zrY0sL1EAAK8rdEcBM2w/s1600/Excavation+Doggie+style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5jFicJHO97yJTBt9YEIqKYy7twFRD7jGyf-VBzSZKUm_E61Pu-8Gno7SVVurreuiHU-agDWc0emEQ2MoR3YVvzd7b4vikN3od77ZVkyBdOLPty6yaWx1e8-zrY0sL1EAAK8rdEcBM2w/s200/Excavation+Doggie+style.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pondering the dog. Yes at 6 a.m. the thumping of a lab tail can only mean one thing. Someone said the name CAMEO. She knows her name. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The minute someone says her name she jumps to attention. If you are going she’ll be on your heels. If she’s doing something naughty she stops instantly at the sound of her name. Her name - simply spoken, evokes immediate response.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At the pool there can be hundreds of kids but the MOM! Yelled from one of my children stops me in mid stride, mid sentence, mid bite - whatever I am doing, immediate attention is shifted to the calling child.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgZWXaDO0AW3WbXl5_dfohJItPtzwTFHtsehhIExp0Zvge_ndS_LqVZAKDA31J59LiX0dfbquzNPvGTx2z3cANRkFs8D3LtZL9iAGYzHDa6MWnMeciut_kmzSrChWeyZBfLCxN-OVH1Y/s1600/Power+of+name+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; height: 205px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 206px;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgZWXaDO0AW3WbXl5_dfohJItPtzwTFHtsehhIExp0Zvge_ndS_LqVZAKDA31J59LiX0dfbquzNPvGTx2z3cANRkFs8D3LtZL9iAGYzHDa6MWnMeciut_kmzSrChWeyZBfLCxN-OVH1Y/s200/Power+of+name+picture.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
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</div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our Creator has many names. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">ADONAI: “Lord”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide"</div><br />
YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals"<br />
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EL ROI: "God of Seeing"<br />
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From the Old Testament through the New Testament scriptures abound of people calling on the name of the Lord and Him answering in their time of need. Whether for rain or for dry land, wisdom or power, protection or offspring, God routinely answered their call.<br />
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In the Old Testament it says <strong><em>“...whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD [YHWH] shall be delivered.”</em></strong>(Joel 2:32) In the New Testament it says <strong><em>“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”</em></strong> (Acts 2:21)<em><br />
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When I am in doubt or in trouble I call on the name of God. He is listening, even when it doesn’t seem like it. God has a name for every need we have. Like a parent who can sense their child’s desperate cry, the maker of us, knows our voice when we cry out.<br />
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No matter the need our God already knows it, he just wants to be asked to help. My friend calls Him “Daddy God”. She never had a real father and God was the only Father or "daddy" she knew.<br />
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God will not force himself on us. Allow your Heavenly father to be involved in your needs. No need is too big or too small. Call on his name like David did when he defeated Goliath, like Moses did when he bumped into the Red Sea, like Daniel did when the lions were circling.<br />
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That same God who helped David’s aim, parted the waters and closed lion jaws is waiting for your call.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder</strong>:<br />
Do you have a Goliath, a Red Sea or some circling lions in your life? What is holding you back from calling on the name of God?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-71148066583216044972011-01-24T09:10:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:10:11.202-08:00Erosion of the heart<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgWIWtz7PI5KTMHUn_D9csnfQ7OBNgf8hrZT-44sHRO7rv_NAyThHzjX2MUoT7Y3jz0re1LCdFneWzhkMrYaeoEN1xMOK_x4ztfSByq8V7BGQHWPno4gtr_1rKo2d3rQ3TSS4s4ZLrsg/s1600/blog+heart+ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgWIWtz7PI5KTMHUn_D9csnfQ7OBNgf8hrZT-44sHRO7rv_NAyThHzjX2MUoT7Y3jz0re1LCdFneWzhkMrYaeoEN1xMOK_x4ztfSByq8V7BGQHWPno4gtr_1rKo2d3rQ3TSS4s4ZLrsg/s320/blog+heart+ice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Linda Jackman Photography<br />
<a href="http://lindajackmanphotography.com/">http://lindajackmanphotography.com/</a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The other day I watched rivulets of water from melting snow trickle down my driveway creating ruts. Today in the freezing temps, those water filled ruts have frozen and widened. I watched my daughter navigate these obstacles trying to avoid them on the way to bus. <br />
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According to the dictionary….. Erosion is the natural process of weathering and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other particles) in the natural environment or their source and depositing them elsewhere.<br />
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Recently, I used the following analogy about erosion to draw a word picture of how our hearts can be eroded by our loved ones, specifically our family members.<br />
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Often our loved one never “intends” to hurt us. Reality is though eventually they do actually wound us. They do things over and over which causes ruts to be carved on our hearts. Rarely do we bring this up. We just react. We pull back, hurt back or just ignore both the issue and the offender. We get over it and move on, but the rut grows deeper with each hurt.<br />
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Gradually all their stuff (words/actions) washes over our heart and trickles down the eroded grooves widening them. So we hear or feel things based upon it washing over the grooves and picking up remnants of the hurts that are deposited in the troughs.<br />
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Eventually everything they say or do…is covered in baggage and offensive. The result is defensiveness which is divisive. <br />
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Watching flood ravaged areas, one sees sandbags to prevent erosion and trucks backfilling things as earth is washed away. I pondered how to fill the grooves in my heart left behind by others whose words or deeds have gradually etched my heart and wounded my spirit. People I am forced to interact with daily.<br />
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Backhoes would destroy my heart. A sandbag would squash it. Avoiding people is not an option especially when you are related to them or even live with them. How to fix it?<br />
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According the Mayo Clinic: "Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended you may always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you."<br />
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Our Creator’s word says:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colossians 3:13</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Proverbs 12:25</span></div><br />
Forgiveness is an act we do without any action on our offender’s part. It is giving up our right to revenge. It’s our choice and it would seem forgiving is heart healthy for us.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder:</strong><br />
Does the erosion of my heart affect my relationships? What can I do to heal my heart? What choices do I need to make and whom do I need to forgive?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-80780473280483229092011-01-14T17:25:00.000-08:002011-01-24T18:11:33.694-08:00Life's TsunamisIn reading about deadly storm surges and tsunamis, I learned the height and speed of the water are determined by the landscape of the deep ocean floor. What we see in the surge, is based on what lies unseen in the formation of the ocean floor. <br />
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In December 2004 a tsunami hit Indonesia and left more than 150,000 people dead or missing and millions more homeless in 11 countries, making it the most destructive tsunami in recorded history. It was a normal day. Sunny blue skies, but unbeknownst to the masses, an earthquake deep in the Indian Ocean generated enough energy to send a wall of water rushing the shorelines and waterways hundreds of miles away. There was no real warning for many.<br />
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Walls of water can rush at 600 MPH leaving in their wake desolation and devastation.<br />
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Tsunamis can be a result of seismic activity or storms. <br />
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The 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia affected people who didn’t feel the earthquake and were nowhere near the epicenter, yet the consequences for many were life altering.<br />
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Occasionally life can resemble a tsunami leaving desolation and devastation in its wake. Conflict, betrayal, a lie, a diagnosis and a clear sky day can turn on a dime without warning. What about the times when we are caught up in the surges of someone else’s life. We aren’t the cause or even near it when it happens yet we are rocked by its shockwaves…often unexpectedly.<br />
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Surviving a tsunami or storm surge is about leverage.<br />
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Our only salvation from being swept away in a surge is being tethered to something larger and stronger than ourselves and the force of the surge itself. <br />
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Emotional tsunami’s can enter our lives without warning. Being prepared and assured of a solid foundation can help us weather the surge. How will you stand firm in the face of that diagnosis, that loss, that grief, that broken trust?<br />
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Our Creator promises to be a refuge.<br />
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Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder:</strong> What lies unseen in our hearts? What determines the force of our surges, of our waves as they crash ashore? Where is our stronghold?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-61436119367707026212011-01-06T16:30:00.000-08:002011-01-06T17:31:31.033-08:00Big Snows and Little Flakes (Guest Blogger)<div style="text-align: center;"><em>GUEST BLOGGER INTRO Today I am hosting my sweet friend Annie as my guest blogger. A nature lover and a God lover like I am, her take on the snow is simply wonderful. She is also the writer who wrote the questions at the end of the chapters in "Beside the Sea with Thee". </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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Today is Epiphany! An apt day to write about insights and ideas. One of the thoughts that has been floating around in my mind these past few weeks is about snow. We have had an unusually snowy December and the first truly white Christmas since our family has lived in this house. The snow-covered world around us is quite welcome at Christmastime and makes it easy to enjoy its beauty.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXEK0mBDb8PFwX_cf2B2Dv6UA61zdBKnjBVmUQ5Vu8f9O65IeA5vERhtYLJzES1knE1CwTkmz4Vh15VKDxVaKsfLu5wFw2psFp3xfpzjDFCbqMk16l7nTMF6MfEbu0Pl23UdYx9Qqro/s1600/100_2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXEK0mBDb8PFwX_cf2B2Dv6UA61zdBKnjBVmUQ5Vu8f9O65IeA5vERhtYLJzES1knE1CwTkmz4Vh15VKDxVaKsfLu5wFw2psFp3xfpzjDFCbqMk16l7nTMF6MfEbu0Pl23UdYx9Qqro/s320/100_2142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I love the look of trees and bushes that have been draped with lights, then smothered in the snow so the lights glow through it. I love the way a blanket of snow makes everything more beautiful – from bare tree branches to a pile of junk in someone’s back yard. I love the sweeping scenery that snow creates across the landscape of hills and forests around western Pennsylvania. And though I don’t live in the mountains, I have been to the Rockies in winter, and I carry pictures in my heart of their grandeur beneath the falling snow.<br />
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These visions outside my window and inside my memories stir my awe and wonder at the vast and majestic nature of God and His creations.<br />
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Then, there are the snowflakes themselves. If you get really close to them, perhaps with a magnifying glass, you see another world of beauty. Not being someone who enjoys getting cold, I prefer to look at photographs of snowflakes! We have books with incredible pictures of snowflakes along with detailed explanations of how they form, the different classes of flakes, the conditions that create the facets and branches of each kind of flake… it’s amazing. The crystalline structures are exquisite, and there are so many different kinds of snowflakes! We rarely get to see them in all their glory, but they are there nonetheless.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBixKE8UHTPYEG4ULqquBvlRwPRxGrCt7Kcl3sducbgWpYu_IaonFpBMmb_fGK9ZjGA7Pnakf3IeExL1pGwDVD6yFcM1VmE8ynK8udttzh47Y-PE2F6UKLh9OhdT8TtjHexKaJfRCEXKc/s1600/snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBixKE8UHTPYEG4ULqquBvlRwPRxGrCt7Kcl3sducbgWpYu_IaonFpBMmb_fGK9ZjGA7Pnakf3IeExL1pGwDVD6yFcM1VmE8ynK8udttzh47Y-PE2F6UKLh9OhdT8TtjHexKaJfRCEXKc/s320/snowflake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These stunning photos astonish me with God’s creativity and attention to details.<br />
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Snow, on a macro scale or a micro scale, reflects and reveals its Creator. Where do you find Him?<br />
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Think about it!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Annie</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="mailto:Annie@TreeOfLifeStudio.com">Annie@TreeOfLifeStudio.com</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Photo of Road Courtesy of Hannah I. Shoemaker<br />
Photo of Snowflake Courtesy of Linda Jackman Photography <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://lindajackmanphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://lindajackmanphotography.com/</span></a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXEK0mBDb8PFwX_cf2B2Dv6UA61zdBKnjBVmUQ5Vu8f9O65IeA5vERhtYLJzES1knE1CwTkmz4Vh15VKDxVaKsfLu5wFw2psFp3xfpzjDFCbqMk16l7nTMF6MfEbu0Pl23UdYx9Qqro/s1600/100_2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-29796079877311651552010-12-09T12:05:00.000-08:002010-12-09T12:07:10.978-08:00Regifting at Jesus' feetWhat are you bringing to Jesus' Feet?<br />
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The story of the birth of Christ talks about a trio of Wisemen who came from afar to worship and acknowledge the birth of the newborn king.<br />
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They brought Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh each of which was symbolic of what was to be come in the future for this tiny bundle who was to be our Savior.<br />
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I thought about “HIM” - the best gift ever given- thank you God! But I also pondered the gifts given to him and their origins. <br />
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Gold a precious metal indicating wealth and royalty, Frankincense a substance used in religious ceremonies, and Myrrh also used in religious ceremonies and a medicine. <br />
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Gold is mined. It is ripped from the earth while both Frankincense and Myrrh are produced by bleeding trees. The substances are a reaction to a purposeful wounding of a tree through the bark and into the sapwood. Ripping and bleeding? A coincidence, I think not.<br />
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These gifts were treasured by Mary who would eventually see their significance as the life of her child played out in the most dramatic role of all time. <br />
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I ponder what gifts I have befitting of a king? While I often lay my troubles at his feet and he routinely takes on my pain and restores my soul. I want to give him a gift not my grief.<br />
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In this gifting season, I find myself pondering what gifts do I have? What can I lay at His feet?<br />
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Shall I lay my dreams and desires for my writing and leave them at His feet? Shall I lay the creativity he has birthed in me? Shall I lay the children he has given me at His feet? Shall I give Him back my heritage and my legacy of faith with which he has gifted me?<br />
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All the precious and meaningful gifts I have - ultimately He has given me. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>(James 1:17).</em></div><br />
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So this Christmas I want to be a re-gifter. I want to thank you Jesus for the gifts you have given me. I want to lay them at your feet to use for your service. Take them and use them.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder:</strong> What gift has he given that you are holding on to which could be magnified by laying it at His feet?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-54895140371269774222010-11-23T04:13:00.000-08:002010-11-23T04:13:49.464-08:00Embracing the SlumberI don’t have a favorite season, I love all of them for different reasons, but fall has so many things to love. With the smells, the colors, and the feel of the cool yet sunny days comes the earthly reminder that much outdoor life as we know it will be moving into sleep mode.<br />
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When I was younger, I equated fall with death. Things seemed to die and it made me sad. We were gardeners and the produce bounty would diminish as the plants got skinny and brown. My favorite ash tree would shed its leaves and look barren. Our grass would turn brown and many of the birds we loved to watch would speed away. Then I learned the truth about fall. <br />
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Fall is the beginning of a season of slumber. I thought the trees were dying but in reality all their power and energy was sinking back down into the trunk of the tree where it was conserved until it was needed to spur new growth in the spring.<br />
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And while the leaves were falling off and “dying” they were really creating matter for new growth. Leaves insulate the ground and protect small plants. They decompose making for rich nutritious food for new life.<br />
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Just like nature, our Creator provided us with a way to recharge. We all need time to conserve our resources so that we can regenerate and be ripe for new growth from a cell level to a spiritual one.<br />
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Just like nature, we have seasons of mass productivity and then other seasons where we seem stilted or stifled in our growth. But just like the stillness of growth in winter, our winter season can be productive in a different way. And just like the work unseen in winter, God can work in us in our unseen places.<br />
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When we begin to feel we are not being productive or “making a difference” we need to look inside to see if maybe something else is going on down deep. God might be setting us aside so that he can birth something in us or restore us from a wound.<br />
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If we suspect we are there, the first thing to do is wait and pray. Don’t rush it. Pray for wisdom and direction. Embrace the stillness. Don’t move forward until there’s a tugging from the Creator. We’ve all seen what happens to plants when there is an early thaw followed by the remainder of winter. Buds that thought they were ready for spring, encased in ice and snow meet their demise. So give it time. Don’t rush the spring.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>under the heavens</strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Ecclesiastes 3:1</strong></em></div><br />
For an additional resource on this concept I recommend the book “anonymous” by Alicia Britt Chole – it is an amazing look at the journey of growth in those seasons where we seem invisible. It provides encouragement for embracing the pause. <br />
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To see how my family embraced winter by camping check out The Kissed by the Creator Photo Page<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kissed-by-the-Creator/141769015852210?ref=sgm#!/photo.php?fbid=171220099573768&set=a.171220039573774.40718.141769015852210">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kissed-by-the-Creator/141769015852210?ref=sgm#!/photo.php?fbid=171220099573768&set=a.171220039573774.40718.141769015852210</a><br />
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Point to Ponder: Where are you? Are you in a hidden season? If not, what growth would you like to see in your life?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-70974350808332904902010-11-13T16:36:00.000-08:002010-11-13T16:36:30.685-08:00The Reckless Abandon of a ChildWatching home movies the other day I saw my kids embracing Nature with reckless abandon and it warmed my heart. One film showed them swinging on vines in the woods while another showed them relentlessly tackling the waves at the sea. I’ve witnessed these kids gleefully leaping off rocks into lakes, climbing up waterfalls and wading through frigid creeks and rivers in their bare feet in search of the crayfish with sharp wicked pincers. Their pursuit of nature is adventurous, hopeful and eager. As a mom, I find myself frequently holding my breath as they explore. Why? Because<em> I</em> am aware of the dangers, <em>that they aren’t</em>.<br />
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During devotions I came across the scripture:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Luke 18:17</em></div><br />
It made me think about the way children approach things and the home movies. Adjectives like relentless, gleeful, fearlessly, adventurous, hopeful, and eager come to mind.<br />
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It would seem that children can battle waves for hours without exhaustion. Their excitement is contagious. Often more wary children can be encouraged to join in the fun by watching and catching onto the excitement.<br />
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Oh to love Christ like that with reckless abandon that is contagious!<br />
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Even after getting hurt or injured, a band aid or a kiss is all it takes and often the child heads back to the adventure. <br />
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Often when we get hurt in the church or by the church (which is human afterall) we shut down and turn it off. We aren’t quick to reenter into that state of relentless faith. How awesome it would be to allow God to kiss our boo-boo and move on with our walk, our faith, to NOT let the devil get the victory in our ouchie.<br />
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When I think of that verse, I have the desire to live my faith like that. Live out my faith adventurously, relentlessly and yes, recklessly! Taking risks for the Kingdom. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.” Luke 18:16</em></div><br />
Today I pray for a childlike faith. I want to sit on His lap and learn how to follow. What about you?<br />
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<strong>Point to ponder:</strong><br />
What is preventing you from living out your faith with “child-like” enthusiasm? What steps can you take to catch that excitement about Christ again and spread it to others?<br />
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<div align="center"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-22226656126659426652010-11-07T13:58:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:58:39.583-08:00Flourishing in BarrennessDuring a powerful windstorm I was watching leaves fiercely being plucked from the tree in my front yard. The afternoon wind relentlessly yanked the amber leaves until at dusk; all that remained was the skeleton of the tree.<br />
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How beautiful that tree was at sunrise and by night fall it was vastly changed. <br />
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It made me think of Job. Job woke up one day on the top of the world and in a short period of time he was stripped of his wealth, his family, and friends. <br />
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How many times have I been stripped of something and temporarily my faith goes with it? As a writer, rejection is a huge part of my life. Sometimes I allow rejection to strip me of my confidence and belief that I am doing what God has called me to do. <br />
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I watched a documentary on Yellowstone. They were discussing forest fires. Looking at the the barrenness left behind by devastating forest fires, I was heartbroken at all the glorious green that was turned to rubble and stripped by the raging flames. The charred blackened earth looked desolate and barren, similar to the way my spirit feels sometimes.<br />
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I learned about a certain tree whose seeds can only regenerate after a fire. Yellowstone geologists showed tiny shoots that emerge amidst the black barrenness within days of the fire. They even mentioned that the burned out area is like a firewall of sorts that will protect the area from another fire for up to 100 years.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house.” Job 42:10-11</em></div><br />
Interesting that growth happened in the midst of what seemed to be desolation. Growth with roots! Job was restored, the forest regenerated. So the trial yields something beneficial?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire test and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So that when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7.</em></div><br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder</strong>: Are you in a season of barrenness or testing? Do you feel God allowing things to be stripped away? Look deep perhaps you will see the tiniest shoot of growth, it may be small but it has the potential to grow into a flourishing forest of faith. Enduring the stripping seems worth it when you know the outcome will be positive - that is His Promise!<br />
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<div align="center"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-64284664828210242152010-10-26T09:17:00.000-07:002010-10-26T09:17:36.488-07:00Exploding Ants, Toxic Body Fluids, and a Clean HeartDid you know that there is a frog that breaks its own legs and grows claws when threatened and a fish that engulfs its enemy in a thick casing of slime, as well as an ant that explodes?<br />
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Malaysian ants internally combust under threat, causing their bodies to explode. They wait until their enemies are close enough to die before detonating. A sea cucumber can literally take on different body states – from hard to liquid – in order to defend itself because of a type of collagen that enables the skin to absorb or excrete water which effectively enables its body to change from a liquid to a solid.<br />
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The bombardier beetle sprays boiling hot and chemically toxic bodily fluids in the direction of any would-be predator. Opossums playing dead actually slip into a semi-comatose state, thus removing any excitement of the kill for a predator.<br />
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Amazing, the different ways God equipped his creations to defend themselves. What about humans? How do we defend ourselves aside from weapons of course? Did God create us with defense mechanisms? Sure we have teeth and nails but those were created for other purposes like eating and scratching. <br />
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According to Sigmund Freud, defense mechanisms are thought to safeguard the mind against feelings and thoughts that are too difficult for the conscious mind to cope with. In some instances, defense mechanisms are thought to keep inappropriate or unwanted thoughts and impulses from entering the conscious mind. <br />
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Emotional defense mechanisms like denial, withdraw, and avoidance are exhibited frequently in the lives of people around us. But what does the Bible say about our defense mechanisms or our conscious mind?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)</div><div style="text-align: center;">“My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.” Psalms 7:10 (KJV) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It would appear that the state of our heart and thoughts are somewhat connected to God's protection. Speaking of protection, what does the Bible say about it?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” </div><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 46:1 (NIV) </div><div style="text-align: center;">“God, my strength, I am looking to you, because God is my defender. My God loves me,and he goes in front of me. He will help me defeat my enemies.” Psalm 59:9-10 (NIV)</div><br />
So perhaps the reason we aren’t equipped with claws, musk sacks, or poison glands is because God created us to Trust HIM to be our defender and our protector*.<br />
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Many creatures display their defense mechanisms when threatened, before any physical contact is even made. Aren’t we kind of like that to? We withdraw, avoid or slip into denial the instance we are threatened emotionally. <br />
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If we believe the Bible is true and the word and heart of our Creator, then it would seem turning the offender over to Him would be the easiest way to achieve protection. Turning our thoughts over to the One who goes in front of us and keeping both He and His Commandments in our hearts can only give us<strong> more</strong> leverage in the battle.<br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder</strong>: Is there a battle you keep fighting over and over? Do you feel like you are losing? What about trying to ‘allow’ your Creator to defend you? What steps can you take now to shift the balance of the battle onto God our Protector?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>* (disclaimer: I am in no way saying forms of physical or emotional abuse should be endured silently. If you or someone you know is in physical or emotional danger, tell a pastor or counselor immediately.)</em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-64757978875221627902010-10-18T11:17:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:17:15.414-07:00Who Hijacked my Jesus? Or Nature vs. NurtureThe other day I watched an amazing video of one of God’s best creations. It was a lovely black lab who “adopted” a litter of abandoned kittens and literally nursed them back to health. Remarkable feline and canine connected. I’ve pondered that change in species; the DNA differences, it’s a paradigm shift to see a dog nursing kittens and plucking them lovingly from danger.<br />
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That same day I watched a group of people in the name of my Jesus; taunt, mock and judge a grieving family at a military funeral in Washington D.C.<br />
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That is not what Jesus taught. If Jesus was still in human form would he link arms with that bashing, insulting “preacher” most definitely not. Did Jesus ever go to a funeral and taunt the grieving? Where is this example in scripture? It basically isn’t so how can they claim this action in the name of Jesus.<br />
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Last week I listened to someone extolling the virtues of an extra marital affair. She claimed the Lord brought this person into her life to make her happy; despite being married to her husband. Basically saying this “home wrecker” was an answer to prayer. Really? I looked for justification in the scriptures for extramarital relations and I couldn’t find it there either. Why was she giving Jesus the credit for this introduction? Can you picture it? Jesus saying to the Woman at the Well, “Oh yeah and here’s a number for another guy for you to check out despite your being married?<br />
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That is not what Jesus taught. Basically Jesus is being hijacked.<br />
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" For I am the Lord, I do not change' Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." In like manner Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."<br />
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It would seem in order to lend credibility to our beliefs, passions and desires we hijack the Jesus from the scriptures and morph him into something that justifies behavior, attitudes or actions. We use Jesus as an endorsement for our thinking no matter how unscriptural it is.<br />
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While a dog can change its nurturing habits it can’t change its nature it is still a dog.<br />
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God often changes his nurturing habits. Sometimes he loves us with tough love, sometimes he blesses us beyond belief. His nature doesn’t ever change "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He is a changeless God. <br />
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I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6)<br />
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The Bible speaks to his character and his nature. The Bible is also called the Living Word of God. God is changeless. So is his Word.<br />
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We run a huge risk at morphing Jesus to justify us. When we change the nature of God, we change his character which in turn pulls us from the TRUTH of the scriptures that govern our lives. We then are governing our lives by a truth that is only our own truth, not the Truth of the Bible. This path leads us to sin. Because not obeying God is basically disobedience which can only be described as sin.<br />
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Point to Ponder: Are you morphing Jesus to justify something in your life? Would that be something Jesus would join you in doing or thinking?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-58126195535902111532010-10-06T11:05:00.000-07:002011-02-07T09:33:00.943-08:00Loved to DeathHave you ever really loved something or someone so much that it hurt? The other day I heard someone say excitedly, “Oh I just love that show to death”! It caused me to wonder where that expression came from. I love words, and as a writer, realize the power they have. Where did that phrase originate? Have you ever said it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjgcIriRQ0L8asGAs_Iw2EJh4POMkFmcRhHSfwoCTIZpo-jjWmI8Wcesq5o1cvDgPFjXLQqxc5I75qpTsI-i4rM6P1NCb_RBjsjwHbkzPfw0x10S8Owu0p8nofD8rG72ZG8iK5IEmII/s1600/Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjgcIriRQ0L8asGAs_Iw2EJh4POMkFmcRhHSfwoCTIZpo-jjWmI8Wcesq5o1cvDgPFjXLQqxc5I75qpTsI-i4rM6P1NCb_RBjsjwHbkzPfw0x10S8Owu0p8nofD8rG72ZG8iK5IEmII/s320/Love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo by Linda Jackman Photography</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://lindajackmanphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://lindajackmanphotography.com/</span></a></span></div>Have you loved something or someone that you would die for? It prompted me to ponder what has that kind of value in my life? My spouse and my children, “some” of my family members, but that is about it. I’d love to have a house at the beach but I wouldn’t kill for it, nor would I die for it.<br />
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What would it be like to be loved to death - imagine it. Loved so well and so much that you couldn’t stand it, you couldn’t speak or breathe you just felt nothing but love 24-7? <br />
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We don’t have to imagine, because we all have been. Jesus loved us to death. Literally. <br />
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Jesus Loved us to Death. Can you feel the power in those words? He didn’t give up on us. He knew we were going to try and fail and some of us not try at all. He knew we would lie, cheat and steal. He didn’t give up on us. He gave<strong> it all up for us</strong>. <br />
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Sometimes I feel like quitting, giving in and throwing in the towel – on myself, and on my projects. Nurturing, growing, improving, maturing me; it seems like so much effort. Sometimes I feel worthless and undervalued mostly in my own eyes because of my shortcomings and my failures.<br />
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<strong>But</strong> Jesus loved me to death.<br />
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In light of those words, quitting or giving up seems like squandering or wasteful. If Jesus thought we were worth dying for, and he is all knowing and never wrong. Why is it so hard for us to see ourselves as worth that? <em>Worth dying for</em>.<br />
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Perhaps it is the lenses we use to view ourselves. The world's lens tells us one story, while the spousal or kid lens gives us another image. Then there is the parent or work lens which can give us a totally different perspective. The view changes based on the lens we are looking through.<br />
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Since no one ever gave up more for us than Jesus, we need to look at ourselves through His lens. It isn’t easy and it isn’t natural. I have a dear friend who struggles to do this <em>ever</em> and she is miserable. I have other friends who are confident women and it seems easy for them to use the “JESUS” lens. Personally, I struggle with it and it hinders me.<br />
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I am going to try harder to see myself through the Lenses of the ONE that loved me to death. Join me!<br />
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Point to Ponder:<br />
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What lenses are you using to view yourself? How would your life be different if you saw yourself as Jesus sees you - worth dying for?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-47130140146097702722010-09-29T04:14:00.000-07:002010-09-29T04:14:20.573-07:00Can You Hear Me Now? PART TWOLast week we explored asking God the question, “Can you hear me now?” when we feel our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. This week let’s take a look at it from God’s perspective.<br />
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Hey! You down there - beating your head against the wall… <strong>”can you hear Me now?”</strong><br />
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Sometimes I can picture God with a megaphone trying to get my attention. My life is loud. I’ve got the stuff most people have plus junk that is my own stuff. Junk and stuff they can clutter our lives when there is no outlet. Think Hoarding…<em>insert mental visual here.</em><br />
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Recently I was reading about Devil’s Lake in North Dakota. An Associated Press story reported:<br />
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<em>It's been called a slow-growing monster: a huge lake that has steadily expanded over the last 20 years, swallowing up thousands of acres, hundreds of buildings and at least two towns in its rising waters. Devils Lake keeps getting larger because it has no natural river or stream to carry away excess rain and snowmelt. Now it has climbed within 6 feet of overflowing, raising fears that some downstream communities could be washed away if the water level isn't reduced</em>.<br />
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Towns, homes, and acres of land have been consumed by this lake. I think about my sanity and my quiet time being consumed by my junk and my stuff. With a life so loud, it can be hard for God’s answers or his directions to get through. Perhaps prompting him to wonder “<strong>Can you hear Me now</strong>?”.<br />
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When my stuff builds up and my junk begins to overtake my life because it has no outlet, the noise level rises and that “still small voice” is reduced to negative decibels.<br />
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It seems that my trials come in the wake of such noise. I often wonder if it is a lack of spiritual discipline on my part that allows the negative stuff to assail me because I’ve been wrong. But sometimes I wonder if God just misses me. He knows at the first hint of trouble I come a runnin’ and praying to him, so perhaps these issues are "allowed into my life" because God misses my conversations, my praise, my worship, and simply my NEEDING him. See, he is a jealous God and my junk, stuff and noise, take my time and focus from Him.<br />
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<em><strong>"In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength..." Isaiah 30:15</strong></em><br />
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He created us with a desire for Him. We are created in His image. He desires and longs for a relationship with us. When our stuff gets in the way, we are weaker. God himself rested on the seventh day. Give your spirit a rest.<br />
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Can you hear Him now?<br />
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Point to Ponder: What can you tune down in your life so that you can hear Him now?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-13644677371817173972010-09-23T10:14:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:14:00.362-07:00Can you hear me now?Do you remember the Verizon Commercials where a guy went all over the place to test that his network was working and his message getting through? How often does our prayer life seem that way?<br />
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Have you asked this of God? Can you hear me now? How often have we come to the end of ourselves and felt our prayers were bouncing off of the ceiling? One pastor said that God answers all prayers in His time. He said when we get a NO. It is still an answer. So is a NOT YET. But the answer we are looking for is usually a YES!<br />
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Talking to someone this morning reminded me of walking in those shoes. Praying fervently and feeling like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Remembering and having those feelings well back up reminded me that GOD did answer… <em><strong>eventually</strong></em> in my situation. But it was after I had come to the end of myself.<br />
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How can we have unshakeable faith. I’ve known people who’ve had it. Horatio G. Spafford penned the hymn “It is well with my soul” near the very spot where his four daughters drowned in a shipwreck in 1871.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>“When peace like a river attendeth my way.</em><em><br />
</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>When Sorrows like sea-billows roll;</em><em><br />
</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say.</em><em><br />
</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>It is well, it is well with my soul.”</em></div><br />
How does a man have that kind of peace amidst the indescribable pain of losing his family? <br />
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Romans 5: 3-4 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”<br />
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My journal reads: <em>But God, I want to be a sprinter. I don’t want to be an endurance athlete. </em><br />
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Perhaps when I lose that mind set, my endurance training will be over. Maybe it won’t end, it just won’t seem like training anymore. It will be part of my character like it was Horatio’s. Horatio didn’t ask if God could hear him. He knew God was listening. He was reassuring God when he said, “It is well with my soul”. I pray today for that kind of faith for me and for the person on the other end of my conversation this morning.<br />
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Is it well with your soul? Is there a race that you are tired of running? Are you wondering if God is hearing you? Start believing regardless of the outcome, “It is well with my soul” and perhaps your victory will be in a most unexpected place. <em>(Watch for Can You Hear Me Now Part II next week)</em><br />
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Point to Ponder: How would your life be different if you declared victory today?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-68638732574546760252010-09-06T05:29:00.000-07:002010-09-07T15:18:26.714-07:00Image is EverythingImages. For my friend Linda images are everything. She is a professional photographer with Linda Jackman Photography (<a href="http://lindajackmanphotography.com/">http://lindajackmanphotography.com/</a>), images are her livelihood. She can tell a story with a photo. She has a gift for not only capturing the right emotion as it happens, but also creating that emotion through visual manipulation. The right light, a filter here or there and a conveniently staged prop and a simple flower can become a gift being given by a petulant child, or an ethereal shot of an infant appears to be a heavenly angel.<br />
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Images can evoke emotion. Recently I watched the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and was taken right back to five years ago with a heavy heart watching the devastation of property and people. The other day I was sent a photo that made me laugh hysterically. When I see images of child trafficking or animal cruelty I get angry. Looking at photos of my father can make me wistful and photos of chocolate, well they make me hungry! <br />
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While images can provoke us, they can also deceive us. Advertising is full of deceptive images that tell us to drink this, take that so you can look like this. I recently viewed a video that showed how an average gal with ordinary features was transformed into a billboard beauty. Did you ever see the commercial for the square Wendy’s bacon cheeseburger years ago? My son talked about it for days. I saw the disappointment on his face when he unwrapped the burger and uttered the words, “This wasn’t what it looked like on TV”, while it was a good lesson it came at his expense.<br />
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One of the coolest verses of the Bible about creation is Genesis 1:26<br />
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Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” and then verse 27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”<br />
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Seriously? We are created in God’s Image ponder this a moment. That same GOD that created the heavens and the earth AND created you…actually created you in HIS image – His likeness. Basically – Image is everything. <br />
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A pastor once said, “You might be the only Jesus that people see.” We sang a song in church yesterday the chorus went like this:<br />
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Jesus paid it all<br />
All to him I owe<br />
Sin had left a Crimson Stain<br />
He washed it white as snow<br />
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As established above, images are powerful and these words reminded me that if we’ve accepted Christ and believe that he paid it all…our image is white as snow. We can’t live in the past, because God put an end to it when he allowed Jesus to pay our debt.<br />
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Point to Ponder: What image do we project and what does our image evoke? Are we the real deal? Or are we morphing what others see on the outside? Are we living in the past or walking in spirit and in truth? What is hindering us from being authentic?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-35551306254549544672010-08-30T07:16:00.000-07:002010-08-30T07:16:12.687-07:00Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon…Priceless!<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">“Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who created the whole wide world? What is his name – and his son’s name? </span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Tell me if you know.”</span></em></strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 30:4 NLT</div><br />
Okay so I am pondering this. My daily devotions include reading through the book of Proverbs every month. There are 31 chapters in this book of the Bible, so all I need to know is the date and I am equipped. I have been doing this for several years. Last month I came across this verse as if seeing it for the first time and yes…TODAY is the 30th so… I came across it again. All I can say is WOW.<br />
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A Chris Tomlin song talks about “Heavenly storehouses laden with Snow” and then there are all the verses trust me, I have researched, that talk about God’s Creations and how magnificent they are. “He drew the boundary for the sea”, “He calls and the stars appear in order”… Does it get more awesome than that? I mean really! God <em><strong>really</strong></em> has it under control.<br />
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The postcards he paints via nature are like love letters to us. It is through nature that we not only see His awesome power but also gentleness and compassion. Showing others how to connect to HIM through creation is what <strong><em>Kissed By the Creator</em></strong> is all about.<br />
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How beautiful is the sunset? How glorious is the dew on a budding rose? How intricate is the web of an orb spider or the patterns of the wind on the sand dunes in the desert? With sweeping artistic strokes God has created a masterpiece that we get to live in. Drinking it in can be mesmerizing. <br />
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Guess what? The creator of all this beauty, this master of much also created <strong><em>you and me</em></strong>. Yes and not only did he create us, but HE loves us more than any of his other creations. We are the desire of his heart. He views us more special and worthy than anything else he created. So worthy in fact he was willing to die for us. We are his most priceless work of art!<br />
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I think of the music I have from musicians I admire, and artists whose work I collect and the books by favorite authors that line my shelves, things I consider treasures and priceless, but would I die for them? Nope. Then I think of God’s priceless treasures. We are HIS collection. We are HIS treasure. The Creator of the Universe and all its splendor and beauty tossed together some hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and a 6 foot strand of DNA and here we are…priceless.<br />
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Remember, your maker knows your value, even if others don’t. So today make it a point to respect yourself by making choices that reflect your worth. Don’t permit someone’s view of you to overshadow your importance to God. <br />
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<strong>Point to Ponder</strong>: <em><strong>How can you encourage someone today of their worth or their value?</strong></em>Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-33704717283548801532010-08-16T09:37:00.000-07:002010-08-16T09:37:15.778-07:00Writer Possessed or Enthusiastic?I love Greek food. Hummus, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, olive oil anything yummo! And I think the language is pretty cool too. I know the alphabet because I had to learn it while pledging in college. Yeah Sigma Delta Phi! <br />
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I just came across the definition of ENTHUSIASM according to the Greek…<br />
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The word enthusiasm comes from the ancient Greek word eufousiasmz EN +THEOS meaning "inspired by or possessed by God". <br />
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The word comes from the ancient Orphic (Orpheus) religious belief system as well as the writings of Plato. The two key meanings in English of the word are: <br />
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1. Possession by a god, supernatural inspiration, prophetic or poetic ecstasy; and <br />
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2. Rapturous intensity of feeling on behalf of a person, cause, etc: passionate eagerness in any pursuit. <br />
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One word that people use to describe me other than <strong>loud</strong> is “enthusiastic” about whatever I am doing. They usually say it while shaking their heads and rolling their eyes like its negative, <strong><em>now</em></strong> I know better! I tend to have a sort of zest that folks notice. If you are going to do anything, especially mundane and boring tasks, I am all about making them fun. <br />
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Recently we sat in traffic. My three kids 16,14 and 9 on a hot black stretch of road called Interstate 80W which we dubbed the “slow road to nowhere” during our recent trip across PA. We sang, we shouted, we waved, we rocked the truck, we did Chinese fire drills - we had a blast! No gloominess, just hilarious! We made a fun memory out of a yucky situation. We relieved stress and arrived home with stories!<br />
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When I think of getting<strong><em> “Beside the Sea with Thee”</em></strong> published. I work with enthusiasm. Not only to get it out and on to the next one, but because I <strong><em>enthusiastically</em></strong> want people to experience God through his creation. Sometimes I picture God creating stuff like actually breathing things into existence. He is the author of enthusiasm. He could have stopped at one kind of fish, or one kind of crab…but NO! He created a plethora of species of everything. What was he thinking when he created the penguin? Really can you look at one and not smile? What about that nasty evil looking angler fish..yikes! <br />
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When I put words together without praying first, it is all drab and uninspired but after seeking the Creator, it seems I can tackle CREATING with enthusiasm. Now thanks to the Greek dictionary…I know why…EN THEOS…<br />
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Now it is your turn! <strong><em>Point to Ponder</em></strong>:<br />
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What are you enthusiastic about and why. And how long has it been since you enjoyed it? Why?Kissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3306707987717990776.post-20430595800305731152010-08-08T12:40:00.000-07:002010-08-08T12:40:38.111-07:00Creating something out of Nothing…literallyThe week after being tremendously blessed at a Writer’s Conference I am tool-LESS. Is this a word? Nope. It is my reality however. Shortly after being inspired, energized and equipped to pursue my craft and the progress of publishing my book, it happened. <br />
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The first “it” was a power surge that fried the surge protector in my office. No Modem, No Router, No Cordless Phone for awhile. I felt adrift. Full of words but no way to share them. But, I did have my cell phone as a link to the outside world. I had it that is until Saturday Morning. The next “it” was when a ride on the Phantom’s Revenge Roller Coaster went horribly wrong according to my cell phone which at some point during the 92 MPH twisty and turny ride was liberated from my pocket. Daughter Hannah made a valiant attempt at retrieval, but alas in the blink of an eye it bounced off the car behind us and fell into that great abyss under the coaster. <br />
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So, my contacts, calendar, texts, photos and yes my lifeline remain at Kennywood.<br />
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Determined to think positively of being reunited with my phone, I filled out the proper paperwork to have it sent to my house when found. In the meantime, it is quiet. I am undisturbed. No buzzing or ringing.<br />
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The lesson? I think I am being forced to spend more time Communicating with my CREATOR than actually Creating. I am not complaining. During this time of cyber solitude and being UNnetworked, I am reading more and searching more. I am enjoying the change. I actually enjoy being unwired and unteathered. <br />
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My new office is Panera, where I have been able to enjoy a cup of coffee and a REAL conversation or two with people I bump into daily. Face to Face Chatting has its benefits especially when they are buying .<br />
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I am getting out of the house more regularly but am MORE productive house wise when I am there.<br />
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This is forcing me to be organized about what is a priority and what is not when I do get my computer time.<br />
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So life has seemingly handed me lemons. I choose to make Lemonade from them. The pondering point for the day? <br />
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What negative situation have you been in that you turned around to make it a positive experience?<br />
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Now it is your turn to write if you have time. I promise I’ll read it. Better yet, meet me at Panera for coffee and oh, bring your wallet!<br />
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Blessings,<br />
<br />
ConnieKissed by the Creatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09692586773245731826noreply@blogger.com2