Oh YES He cares...

Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Refrain:

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Refrain:

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Refrain:
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
~~Frank E. Graeff, 1901
1 Peter 5:7 “He cares for you.”

I love this hymn and as I was traveling home the other night I heard it and was reminded of God's care. What struck me the most was the last verse. Most hymns' last verse deals with death or over on Heaven's shore. This one is no different but I do have to say there are other goodbyes to dear ones besides death. What about a goodbye of a dear one who hasn't said goodbye but has vanished? What about a simple parting and not knowing if it is the last time you will see the person? Well, God does care about my aguish over a disappearance for He has counted every tear and recorded them in His tear book. He has weighed and measured them and found them valuable. He cares. He keeps. My sad heart has turned into joy...

Casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you.
~1 Pet 5:7

{here is the butterfly!}

Cast your burden on the Lord,
& He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
~Ps 55:22

You number my wanderings;
put my tears into Your Bottle;
are they not in Your Book?
~Ps 56:8

For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
~Ps 56:13

Ahh, YES! He answers YES, HE CARES! AMEN!

worship man vs worship God

I have been greatly disturbed over the fascination and hero worship of a mere man. Great crowds in cold weather moved to tears and good will...

This man speaks and because there is such an appeal in him that whatever comes out of his mouth must be true. Like his saying that he will stay out of the private decision of keeping a bady or abortion. Those who follow because everyone else who follows and cannot think for themselves begin to take on this lie as truth. It is to dangerous even for the thinkers. This man who leads America cannot invoke in God's Help and Trust and Blessing on us if he goes against the very principle of the Almighty Creator.

We must watch what we worship! We must keep our focus on the Creator! We must pray hard for President O and for our nation.

Are you celebrating God in your life? Are you bending the knee to the Kings of kings? Or are you worship a man?

No one is like You, O Lord;
You are Great,
and Your Name is Mighty in Power.
Who should NOT revere You, O King of the nations?
This is Your due.
Among al the wise men of the nations
and in all of their kingdoms, there is no one like You.

This is what the Lord says:
''Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
FEAR NOT! They can do no harm
nor can they do any good.''

No one is like You, O Lord;
You are Great,
and Your Name is Mighty in Power.
Who should NOT revere You, O King of the nations?
This is Your due.
Among al the wise men of the nations
and in all of their kingdoms, there is no one like You.
They are all senseless and foolish;
they are taught by worthless wooden idols ...
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made
is then dressed in blue and purple -
all made by skilled workers.
But the Lord is the True God;
He is the living God, the Eternal King.
When He is angry, the earth trembles;
the nations cannot endure His wrath.
~~Jeremiah 10:1-10

terrorist vs baby

How in the world can you justify ending the torture of terrorists but allow abortions?

Abortion is torture. Not only is it torturing a little baby inside the mom but it is also torturing the mom physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of her life. I have stepped into the shoes of every side and cannot for the life of me understand the right to abort but for purely selfish reasons.

If you want to throw the rape card at me, I understand that is too hard to truly wrap my head around but I would desperately want to choose life for that child as God always works for my good. I would hold on to every blessing I could but to honor life as God would have me.

If you want to throw the life of the baby is deformed or special, it still boils down to you being selfish. I have seen to many of these special gifts outshine those of us who are suppose to be 'normal'.

I have seen my mother turn into a grandma at the birth of her grandchild. She forgets everything else but to play and protect her little ones. So when a friend who is a mother of three tells me that it is the woman's right to choose life or abortion, I flipped. She would deny her own mother to be a grandma which is a special gift. I cannot argue well and that was two months ago. I am still fuming and dread her calling.

I have to be honest that I do not want to be a mom but when I thought I might have a chance to marry, I could not rule that out. I have often felt guilty over not wanting kids because I know down deep it is selfish. But to be honest I have the mom feelings of passing on knowledge and protection to offspring I do not have. I just cannot understand. What I do understand is that abortion is essentially giving yourself a gun to pop off another human being. It is murder fair and square.

What really gets me is that we are going to treat our terrorist better than our own flesh and blood. It is not a personal matter but an allowance of blood on all of our hands. I know I live to a higher standard and I desire to serve and obey my God but I also know that God cannot bless a nation who disregards life. God created you and me. We are special gifts. What man or little king has the right to destroy life?

1st amigurumi cupcake & oreo

I did it. I made my first cupcake. It turned out bigger than I thought it would. I have two cupcake amigurumi instructions so I am anxious to try the other one. I am looking for smaller cupcake. The one I made is too big to just stuff. It is like a container so I am thinking to only stuff the top and leave the bottom as is to hold little trinkets or a note...

It is a chocolate cake with raspberry icing and multi-colored sprinkles on top. I know I could do better as I am not happy with the spiral look. I like the round look because it is more balanced but it will do for know. I am really proud of the 'ruffle' part. It is something new and and I did it!

I also made my first oreo amigurumi cookie! I didn't like how big this one turned out either so I took out a couple rows and reworked it. Again the instructions were in the spiral but I tried to make it in the round for a balanced cookie. I have one some part that isn't totally round but, oh well! I will keep at it and practice makes perfect. I am proud of the white filling part because it was a new stitch, hdc. I made it work and thought it turned out well. I want to make a raspberry stuffed oreo and a mint oreo!

I am anxious to get some reaction because most people don't know what I am talking about and some think of the old crochet animals and things they created in the 70's. Not so! These are hype and really mod not to mention very cute. I fell for amigurumi because of the cuteness and because they are tiny! They will make for some really special gifts for my nieces. I might have some time left for the nephew to enjoy a hedge hog or something before he grows up too much. And to top off another reason for me to love amigurumi is that now I can fully enjoy the sweets and chocolate that cause those dreaded food allergy HA's. Now I can have a plate full of these cookies or a cake plate topped with all kinds of cupcakes! LOVE IT!!!!!

not making it into my future...

There comes a point in your life when you realize
            who matters,
            who never did,
            who won't anymore...
            and who always will.
            So, don't worry about people from your past,
            there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.


Wow, interesting that this came in a forward in one of my emails. I don't like the leaving parts of those that come into my life. Yet as I become stronger in learning to live my 'oneness' {aloneness isn't word and the dictionary offers oneness instead!}, I've become more at peace with the ones who have chosen to not be in my future... The little girl in me who likes to stick out her tongue says 'nah nah nah to bad so sad...' but the little kind sensitive quiet girl wiping a stray tear says 'its not wise to miss out on the good bits of life...'

generation to generation ...

Psalms 78 is a passage where it sums up the Great Works of God and the importance of sharing it with your children.

That they may set their HOPE in GOD,

and NOT forget the Works of God,

but KEEP His commandments.

Ps 78:8

Where is the celebration of God's Works? Where is the devotion and reverence for the 'workings together'? Why are we so ho-hum over the simple commandments asked of by God for our basic happiness? Why do we mutter and become so bitter over things not working out as we have planned? Why are we accusing God of being silent when it because our wishes aren't being fulfilled? Shouldn't we have great delight in God? Shouldn't we be rejoicing and celebrating the Almighty for His Hand protecting and preserving us?

Isn't a shame that we put so much celebration in an unproven fallible man and mutter and fret against the Omnipotent God?

man ≠ God

Man is man. Man is weak, mortal, dysfunctional, fragile, faulty, imperfect, and a real pain in the neck! So how can people equate themselves to God or as being little gods? I think I am going to start naming names and how unfortunate it that the two biggest culprits are women but in II Tim 3:5-7, we're warned of 'a form of godliness' that women get hoodwinked by. The names are Oprah and Joyce Myers. I was a little shocked over Joyce Myers but I haven't been paying to enough attention but now that I know, I won't be watching.

People can never think themselves into being gods nor can they ever create. The other thing that sets man from God is that they are mortal. Every day man is dying and death will over take us all. The only way to have Everlasting Life is to bow the knee to God and ask Him to be Lord and Master of your life.

Another huge danger that I see is the cult like, hollywood mega superstar status we Americans are putting on one man who is touting/peddling hope. Hope in who or what? Yes, we can? First fault is that man raises up 'leaders' and then tears them down. What is more dysfunctional than that? We have already blasted one President never giving him a chance and tore him to shreds so who is to say man won't do it again to a new one everyone seems to be enamored with? Again we only can with the bowed knee asking for God's Strength and Ever-Present Help

Hope is a very sacred word and it didn't come to me until the election and my heart began to sing 'My Hope is built in nothing less that Jesus' Blood and Righteous' that I fully realized why I was having a problem with the goings on of this cult like following. ''Rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh'' Phil 3:3. This man is just a man who is imperfect. I do wish him the best and will pray for his leadership and for his soul. I also will pray for his stance on pro-choice because what nation is under God when the nation is killing babies? ''That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments'' Ps 78:7. Did we forget God's commandment ''Thou shalt not kill''? God fashions each person in womb! And man wants to destroy life? God says to choose life! (deut 30 &31)

Another thing about all the hype is what the media is throwing around that this is history in the making. Isn't it present day? Shouldn't we be living the day given for tomorrow isn't promised? Remember man is mortal? Besides what is going to interest me more than anything here on earth is roaming the Halls of Heaven where God keeps the 'His-story' books and see for myself with God's eyes and perceptive what is important for the Kingdom. Man's eyes are faulty and his desires are fickle.

My eyes are on Jesus and my HOPE is Jesus Christ...

hormones ...

I wonder what makes an imbalance of hormones in a woman when she begins her transition from child bearing and rearing to a woman of stature and sage. Is it the years of not taking care of your needs or is it the lack of proper eating and exercise? Is it working some job because it brings home the 'mula' but depletes the soul or is it the sour atmosphere that you keep or tolerate at work or at home? Is it plain and simply s-t-r-e-s-s? We all know what stress does to us so that is why I have been thinking this out..

I wonder if keeping my mind stayed upon Christ the Solid Rock and staying in the Word will keep my hormone levels balanced and keep stress at bay. I will be making this transition soon and have heard the horror stories and have question my own mother. I have become more and more anti-drugs for most things. For example, taking an aspirin for my food HA's only covers up the pain; it does not protect or prevent the blood cells from dying. I am not naive for there is a time for medication and a time for no medication and kicking the stress habit our lifestyle has created as a monster has got to be the key.

I have noticed some stress beaters for myself and the biggest stress reliever is my relationship with God. It has been a long time coming and I have a long way to go. I am a big time feeler and I will always feel but to rightly put them in God's hands by going the Word and laying hold of God's promises. I have got the praying without ceasing down as I rattle about alone at home but often before going to bed, I would cry as I battle out my frustrations. I hated it and myself. The last couple of years I have found solace in God's Word and now it has become an obsession to pray the Word. I don't cry over the frustrations before bed anymore. I am repeating the fear not messages.

This year's theme is allowing myself to be Romanced by God and to find my true beauty. Already I have come to terms with a certain desertion in my life. I have been getting over it only to find myself not over it. I think it is a growing experience and can't be learned at the drop of a heart. Hearts shatter and it takes time for them to heal because there are so many angles and edges to bring back together. God has been so very patient with me and has been very Masterful at gently healing my heart. I have soooooo many learnings that even through a fleshy experience God has worked it for my good and betterment. At this point in time I feel a satisfied heart beating in my chest because I am letting God romance me. I am so tired of being alone and learning everything I can about being a couple that I am finally going to embrace this single life. It was a dual life that began to eat me alive. God has said to choose life and I am making a life decision to choose a JOYFUL life.

So by embracing my relationship with God and embracing my single JOYFUL life, stress is on the run. So I wonder if by keeping a balanced and whole life, will it keep my hormones in balanced and I can enjoy the transition...? I kinda think so...

Fear NOT little one! Fearlessly walk with Me. I will keep you! Always your Heavenly Father and Keeper

a form of godliness

Why search for spirituality in books or so called guru's? Why search for spirituality on tv or some famous person? Why search for spirituality from someone peddling hope or from government hand-me-downs? Why search for spirituality any where but the Source? We live in dangerous times and seek after a false spirituality.

I have always believe you must go to the source. Never go on what someone else's word. God's Word is my Source for Right Ways and for keep watch over the dark and evil ways.

As I was reading II Tim 3:5-7, I was stopped in my tracks because here I saw something laid out in Scripture that was an actual description of a predominant tv female person who reaches homes all over the world. It was kind of frighting.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
People .... having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women,
who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

This is very dangerous for women because we can be swayed. The only way to not get caught in this web is to feed on the Word as much as you pray and we are to pray w/o ceasing! Having a relationship with God is a two way street. Don't be the only one having a gab fest! Let God do some major talking.

All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
II Tim 3:16-17

So Whom is your Source for your spirituality?

fear vs faith ...

As my mind has been overloading on the 'fear not' message, I have decided that the opposite is faith.

But without faith
it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God
must believe that He is,
and that He is a Rewarder
of those who diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:6

Shaking in fear is ugly and does not please the Maker but He knows that is very much apart of the flesh experience. So He is always quieting us with His Words if only we keep our hearts soft and open to Him. I love this verse as I really want my Heavenly Father to smile over me and be pleased at this little girl creation. I have been praying hard for my family and for me over the earthly fears. We will go through fire and flood (Isa 43:1-4) but He is my Keeper and He keeps us. By praying I keep my faith and trust focused on Him. I know by His Good Keeping, rewards of comfort and peace and ultimately Joy will overflow my heart...

flourish = Joy's verb ...

Joy is a state of being content & trusting in God. Flourish is Joy in verb form and it is beautiful!

flourish |ˈfləri sh |

verb

1 grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, esp. as the result of a particularly favorable environment 

• develop rapidly and successfully .

• [with adverbial ] (of a person) be working or at the height of one's career during a specified period 

When I think of flourish, my mind is overflowing with good things like beautiful, color popping flowers flourishing in a gentle breeze. Simply put, just winsome. I love how flourish is described in Psalms 92:12-15:

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree
Those that be planted in the House of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To show that the LORD is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

A palm tree is made stronger when it bends in horrific winds and on a beautiful day, a palm tree is so tall and flourishes against a blue sky. Do I bend under God's allowance of storms or do I fight against what He is doing in my life?

When I am planted in the House of the Lord, there will I be most joyful and flourishing. I see the House of the Lord anywhere I am in communion with God via His Word and my prayers, thanksgiving, and hymns. It is also my obedience (good fruit) as my love shared to Him. This is were I am most beautiful and the most flourishing. What is my return? a nice big fat, fruitful, and flourishing me! {beautiful}

basket of nerves ...

I called up little bro today. He is leaving for Chicago early in the morning to head down for Nicaragua (1wk) for his masters degree. He is always a basket of nerves but being far away from I didn't know if he was rattling around. At the holidays he seemed quite still and ok. Well, I am glad I called. He is concerned and he also feels that the 'planners' didn't really plan as well as he hopes. Plus, he had to sign a form saying that if he should die while on the trip that his family could not sue. That really bugs him. Of course it would, he is a husband and a new dad.

I took the 'fear not' verses that I had compiled together from our Christmas get together and emailed them to my family this week. He took it and emailed it to the group that is going on the trip. He says that he has some fears. But you know I believe strongly that believers will have fear feelings but it is what we do with those feelings. We need to dig ourselves deep into God's Word and lean hard into them - like palm trees in hurricane winds. They bend and don't break... I call it renewing of the mind... or my favorite 'talking back'!!!! I start 'talking back' God's Word straight into the face of fear. I even get out my little soap box {grins}.

I told him that I would take his fears and pray. Not only that but I am praying the 'fear not' verses for him. It is amazing at the power of God's Word! I also told little bro that when I am restless or nerveous that I take out my New Testament that I carry with me and read the Psalms. It is amazes me that every time I do so, I feel calm... maybe he will try it too.... Most of all I will be praying that he relaxes and finds God's beauty in the place and see God moving in the people and in him...

True Strength ...

You know the feeling when it is such a relief for a man to step in for you and carry some burden that you had been overloaded with? Or the feeling when a man spoke up for or stood as a shield when you felt paralyzed by the need to be nice but needed to be strong on your values? It is call STRENGTH and every beauty needs someone to be strong for you?

I have always enjoyed and thanked God for His Creations like when I am going to work on a winter day and the bright yellow sun is waking up and kissing me on the cheek. I thank God for this because it is His Kiss and His pat on my back saying 'go get 'em'. I also thanked God for the past two weeks off because I needed it so badly and under normal circumstances couldn't. I totally enjoyed every moment off. I got to take care of me and my space. But I realized that my thank you needs to be more specific so that I recognize for myself that it is God, my Great Lover, who stood up for me and my beauty and said 'It is time to rest and enjoy it.' Now that is True Strength and True Romance. Ahh, my Everlasting Love!

Q's:
Where has God been my Strength and stood up for me or shielded me when I couldn't? How has His Strength protected my beauty? Have I thanked God for His Everlasting Love and Strength? How does if feel to finally breath again without the burden God shouldered? Will I let His Strength nourish my beauty?

1st single crochet!

I DID IT! I finally figured out how to single crochet! I have been wanting to make Amigurumi for my niece and maybe for myself. I do like anything small. Now I am on my way.

Last week I found some instructions that had actual pictures instead of drawings. It makes a big difference when you are trying to 'SEE' what and where you need to go to make loops or stitches. My Grandma has long past away and I didn't want to learn when she was able plus, not sure I would have picked it up. I think I am learning that it is best if I learn on my own. Interesting - but from all my years studying on how to teach I figured out how I best learn. Now it is difficult for me to be taught by others because I know how I learn and others haven't figured that out. To be a good teacher you have to know how your student learns and teach it that way to them.

Anyways!!! I have been practicing and have figured out how to increase and decrease. I'm not sure if I have the slip stitch quite figured out and why it is needed. I am working on the rounds because that is what Amigurumi is based on. I am finding that the magic ring works best as just the regular ring isn't cutting it for me. I have made a long range goal of mastering the crochet in the round by the end of the month. I didn't think I gave myself enough time but now that I got the rows worked out, I might just make that goal. However, I reallllllly want to get with making my first Amigurumi!!!

Happy New Year ... 2009

I was rereading a portion of 'Captivating' and realized that I need to let God romance me more. I have delighted in Him but when it comes to my aloneness and my heart, I fail to let Him heal and fill it up. No wonder I am often questioning what He is doing. So I think this year's theme will be about being Romanced by an Everlasting Love - Jer 31:3.

Funny, I think aloneness should be a word but every time I spell check, the dictionary questions it. Maybe I should substitute the oneness that it offers as it is what I am trying to do with my aloneness...