What Goes Around

Christmas is always a great time of year.  As a child I remember road trips to go to my grandparents home.  The road trip itself was an adventure.  We would wake up at O'dark-thirty and get into our van in our pajamas.  There was a bed in the back that we would snuggle up in.  I remember one winter when we didn't have heat in the van, so my dad wore a snowsuit while driving and we were in sleeping bags in the back.  Sometimes it was snowing and treacherous conditions.  One time it was so snowy we ended up staying in a hotel along the way instead of making it in one day like we usually did. My sister and I liked to sing in the car.  We could sing for hours on end.  Now a days kids don't enjoy the trip.  They watch movies or play games on their devices instead of looking out the window.  We would play car bingo, where you have to find car makes and models.  Or we would play the alphabet game.  Mostly we would sing through...

I was reading an article online today about an organization in Portland that is helping young women who have been sex trafficked.  It is a day house that trains them in jewelry making and other activities.  They also set up foster families for the girls.  And they happen to be Christian.  So, like I often do, I read the comments of readers.  Most of them, maybe 95% were saying how horrible it is that the vulnerable are being forced to become Christians in order to avail the services (which is not true).  Or the comments are saying how horrible Christians are and how coercive it is.  My blood is boiling right now!!!!  The atmosphere in America towards Christians is so hostile.  Only one comment said that this is good work happening to help these girls.  

I have a very creative mind.  I make beautiful earrings and bracelets.  I sew fancy shirts and pants.  I make fun pillow covers.  I do basket weaving.  I paint lovely scenery pictures. My mind is full of business ideas.  I have started a bookstore, a coffee shop, a gym (that is true), a gift store. In my mind I have written sermons, wrote stories, and oh so many amazing blog postings. I must have a brain injury or something, because when I try to get the things in my mind to come out they get all jumbled up and turn into something totally different and usually quite inferior to what was inside my mind.

Isaiah 49:15   "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!" We have girls that come to the home I work at who have been abused by a family member.  Some of the mothers of these girls accuse the girl of lying.  They basically disown the daughter in favor of the abuser staying out of jail, usually to provide financially for the family.   Many times I am so taken aback that a mother can be so cruel to their daughter.  How can you throw your daughter out?  Is it all about survival?  Fear?  Shame?  Or do they really not have love for the girl? The Isaiah 49:15 verse reminds us that God will never forget us.  He is not like a mother who has no compassion on her own child.  God's love is perfect.  No matter what we do he will continue to love us.  It is good to know that there is always someone who loves these girls eve...

I just finished reading the story of Jesus' crucifixion.  I thought it was a good way to start out my Good Friday.  I want to think about Jesus' death today.  The verse that really stuck out to me today was Luke 23:48 "And all the multitudes who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return beating their breasts." This verse made me think about those I know who either mock Jesus or find our belief in Jesus foolish.  I was thinking that if Jesus' death were to happen now, and all of humanity could be watching by TV, who would be cheering his death?  Some would be happy that he was dying so that it would put an end to the "foolishness" of his followers.  But when Jesus died, there were signs that happened, the sky going dark, the veil being torn in two, and an earthquake.  I wonder what it was that convinced the people watching Jesus die that they were wrong.  Was it the way he died or the accompanying si...

I don't often get angry.  And when I do, it isn't like a huge explosion or anything. Yesterday I had a small anger outburst.  I am not proud of this.  I feel ashamed and a bit foolish.  I'm sure the situation would have been better dealt with in a calm and humble attitude better. In the afternoon, after I worked out, I took a shower.  As soon as I got in, the doorbell rang.  Micah answered it, without opening the screen door.  There were three men who spoke to him in Hindi, which he doesn't understand.  So he came to my bathroom door and told me that three guys were at the door and something about electricity.  I told him to tell them to come back in 15 minutes.  He went to tell them and then he came back and said that they told him "no".  Soon the power went off. I hurried my shower and got dressed and went to the door in a bad mood.  You see, I had time to brew while I showered.  They came back to the door and sai...

Yesterday I was waiting for a lady to show up for a meeting at my house.  She was suppose to be there at 11.  Around 5 minutes before 11:00 I started to get anxious.  Well, really I got a bit anxious before that even, but I noticed it at about the 5 minute mark.  I started wondering when she would come.  Would she be on time?  Then it was 11:00 and she still hadn't come.  I had to self-talk myself with thoughts of "she is Indian so she will be late."  "Maybe she is stuck in traffic somewhere."  Then it became 11:15 and she still hadn't come.  My anxiety became more intense.  I fidgeted and thought, "How long do I have to wait?"  I looked up "anxiety waiting" on Google and read some insights, but nothing really helpful.  I waited and waited.  Finally at 12:00 I asked Steve (who was napping) how long he thought I should wait.  He said I should just leave and he could call me if she showed up.  I didn't have h...