I never had cats growing up. However, I did have dogs. Therefore, I kinda became a "dog person". Then I met my husband. Our marriage brought 3 little boys into the family.....2 little black cats and 1 little white cat. I instantly fell in love with them and they have done a good job at trying to get to know their "mommy" and tolerating her "dog ways".
Approximately 1 year after my husband and I got married, we learned that our white cat had cancer. For the last 2 years we have given him chemotherapy and he has done so well. He gained back his weight. His coat, once again, looked snow white and he did not suffer any side effects from the chemo.....just as the vet told us.
The last 11/2 months we have seen him go downhill. We think his cancer has spread. Because of his age we have opted not to put him through any thing that would just cause him discomfort and really not help him. He has lost a lot of weight. It has been within the last 24 hours that we have realized that we have to face what we did not want to face.....having him put to sleep.
If you read this, please say a prayer for us. Both of us are animal lovers, and we are losing a part of our family.
We are thankful for all the memories we have and all the love we have received from him and been able to give him. He has been a gift from God and a blessing.
Thank you precious Doniphon.....thanks for all the times you put up with mommy and thanks for so easily adapting (as all of you did) to a cat/dog family! Thank you for the joy you have brought us. We are never going to forget you. I know that there will be a void in the lives of your sisters Ash and Brit and your brothers Cor and Effie.
Yes, life goes on.....but the void will always be there. A void that only Doniphon can fill.
It was just another morning.....getting ready for work, getting kids ready for school, thinking through the day that lay before us....
Moments later America was forever changed. Lives lost, "good bye's" that never got said, suddenly people were more important than things and prayer was a priority in our lives as we fell to our knees asking for miracles, asking for strength, comfort and peace....but most of all asking "why?"
To the thousands who lost their lives that day, I never knew you yet I have never forgotten you. I often reflect back wondering what your last moments were like, wondering about who you were and what your day was supposed to be like.
To the families of those who lost their lives, I often think of you and offer up a prayer for you. I wonder how you are doing 10 years later. I think of the children who lost a mom or dad that day and how you have carried on in spite of the tragedy. I pray for all of you, that God has been your refuge, a very present help in time of trouble.
To the first responders- the police, the firefighters and the EMT's. Thank you! You are still my hereos. Many of your co-workers died that day as they tried to rescue those trapped. Yet, you had to carry on, and I realize you all faced the possibility of your own death as you bravely worked looking for just one more survivor.
To Mayor Rudy Guliani I thank you. The task that you had in front of you was enormous and you did not back down. You were a rock for New York City during those following days and months- you showed leadership and courage.
To President Bush and Mrs Bush- Thank you. With just a few months under your belt as leader of the greatest nation in the world, you were faced with making some difficult decisions and shouldering the weight of a nation's fears and sorrow. You are to be commended for your leadership and your love and compassion in the days and months that followed. Mrs. Bush, what a comfort you were to the children as you so lovingly and calmly visited and loved on them. You are a true lady, full of grace and beauty.
To every hospital worker, and the Red Cross and all the organizations that jumped to their feet to assist in any way you could, thank you! I am in the medical profession. I know the mode we go into when we are called to respond. For the overtime, the missed breaks and lunches and hard work- thank you
To every church and pastor who opened their doors for those who needed comfort, had questions or just wanted to quietly kneel and pray- thank you. Thank you for taking time to share Jesus with those who were looking for Him that day and in the days to follow. Thank you for giving the greatest gift one could gift- the gift of sharing Jesus.
To every person in TV and journalism who found themselves thrust into a never ending story- thanks for the long hours worked and for putting yourself in the midst of the rubble in order that we might see what was going on and be able to "love" those folks from afar as we watched it unfold on TV or listened on the radio or read in the papers.
To every soldier who prepared themselves for what was to follow and for every man or woman who enlisted in the military at that time in order to hunt down the horrible terrorist that did this. THANK YOU! Thank you for giving yourselves and putting yourself into harms way to defend the freedom we enjoy. Thank you to every family of a soldier who said good bye to your loved one not knowing if you would ever see them again. Many of you have not as your loved one paid the ultimate price for freedom.
To every American- what a day September 11,2001 was! It was a day that will forever be engraved in our memories and as we know....America was forever changed. It was a day that Americans came together, united. We hugged each other, supported one another, prayed for one another and gave of our time and our energy to help folks we didn't even know. At that time, people became more important than our things, prayer became a priority and suddenly we understood (sadly it didn't seem to last) that God is in control and He deserves all respect and honor and He is the Authority. As horrible as that day was- it did bring about some good in Americans.
I want to challenge you today with something that I started over 25 years ago. When you arise in the morning start your day by giving yourself a funeral! Yep, you heard it right! Now, I have to tell you, you might have to do it several times, I have found I am rather good at resurrecting myself. But that's ok, God's not finished with me yet.
Sometime in the shower or in the bed or as I'm doing my hair I pray something like this.
Lord, today I die to self and ask You to make me alive in You!
I put my mind and its fleshly thoughts to death- fill me with God thoughts
I put my eyes and what earthly things they would gaze upon to death - give me a Godly vision
I put my ears and the worldly advice and temptations of the devil they would hear to death- Allow me to hear what is only coming from You
I put to death my tongue and the ungodly words that may be uttered to death- May my speech be healing and loving and be quick to share Jesus instead of gossip, blessing instead of cursing
I put to death my hands and the grasp they might desire to place on temporal materials- May I grasp only for the prize of the high calling
I put to death my feet and the paths they may be quick to trod upon- Lead me in paths of righteousness.
It helps- trust me. Even if you have to do it a 100 times a day. The Holy Spirit will speak to you as you try to resurrect yourself- you will hear those warnings. It helps to go step by step.
Do this my friend
When you die to self it is truly then that you can REST IN PEACE!
Mayor Bloomberg: How tragic to read about your decision to exclude prayer from the 9/11 memorial ceremony. I read that your reason is "the memorial schedule is too busy to allow prayer."
As I sit here at my desk, my mind wanders back to September 11,2001. I was not far away from that site. I was actually asleep at the time. Having spent many hours working (as a RN), I was resting comfortably in my bed. I awoke to find my answering machine blinking and the message was from my friends over a thousand miles away saying something like "hey, turn on your TV, something has happened, some plane accident or something, looks pretty bad, call us." I turned on my TV only to see the horror of a city in shock, in disbelief at what was going on. I wanted to call my friends, but I had no phone service by this time. I had no friends in New York since I was only there for the summer months and into early fall. The thought of not being able to reach out to my friends put my stomach in knots......but there was God. As He has always been, He was faithful to comfort me and remind me that He was still in control, He was still God. No terrorist could terrorize the King of Kings.
PSALM 46-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her and that right early. The heathen raged the kingdoms were moved: he uttereth his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire, Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
I was not the only one with that feeling in my stomach. Thousands of others felt that way also and for many different reasons. For some, they knew they had loved ones in those towers, for some they passed by the towers every day in their commute to and from work. Some were supposed to be in the towers that morning but through some "twist of fate" they were not. New York City was a city in shock and America was a nation in shock. Who do we turn to? What can we do?
The Creator of this world was there. Unshaken by the horrific events, His arms were open, His ears were open. He was the One we could turn to to find peace in the midst of chaos, to find comfort in the midst of pain and heartache, to find security in the midst of terror....God was not too busy.
Churches all over this country understood that. They opened their doors for those who needed a shoulder to cry on, for those who needed prayer, for those who had questions and were looking for answers, the churches were not too busy.
Organizations such as Samaritan's Purse (founded by Franklin Graham) and other Christian organizations flooded the area and sat up make shift counseling areas and were there....why? Because they understood God was not too busy.
I know of at least 1 clergyman who died because He was a vessel used by God to extend the love of God to those who were in the midst of the horror-
In the days ahead, God was not too busy to provide strength to those whose strength was zapped from them. He was not too busy to provide for the needs of those affected by the tragedy. Ten years have passed and God is still comforting those folks affected by the tragedy. True to His Word, He is a God that never slumbers or sleeps.
PSALM 121: 1-4- I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made the heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Mr. Mayor, God has never been "too busy" to intervene in the lives of those who call upon Him. His love for us is so vast that He was not "too busy" to make a way so that we could have our sins forgiven and spend eternity with Him- He did this through sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the weight of our sins as He was crucified on a cross 2000 years ago.
JOHN 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
To all who read this blog- Take Comfort! Mayor Bloomberg doesn't dictate God's agenda and no one has the power or the authority to restrain God. While Mayor Bloomberg may have excluded Him, we do not have to do the same. We can invite Him into every activity of every moment of every day.
I have read various articles where angered people plan on booing Mayor Bloomberg off stage during the ceremony remembering 9/11. Please, my dear Christian brothers and sisters, do not involve yourself in such behavior.
ISAIAH 53:7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not His mouth.
I PETER 2:21- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.
I PETER 2:22-23- Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
I PETER 3:9- Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Instead, use your energy and time to pray for Mayor Bloomberg and others who have demonstrated very poor judgement in their decision making. Pray that they would seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.
ISAIAH 55: 6-7 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
God has called us to show respect to our government leaders. While we certainly are not called to agree with the decision Mayor Bloomberg has made, we must show respect in our disagreements! May our behavior be one that honors God and silences those who would attempt to lash out at us.
I TIMOTHY 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth.
I PETER 2:15-16- For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honour all men, Love the brotherhood, Fear God. Honour the king.
I was reading my Bible today and the Holy Spirit really spoke to me afresh. The passage is found in Luke 1. The context is this: An angel has visited Mary announcing that she will give birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world!
Imagine the shock! This young virgin girl just living a normal life- now her world is rocked by this news. She asks the question that would come to any virgin's mind- "How can this be, seeing I know not a man?"
( translated.." I have not had sexual relations with a man")
It is the angel's response that the Holy Spirit used to speak to my heart today. Let's look at the angel's response:
Luke 1:35(KJV) " And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
The Lord desires to perform great works within all of His children. No, we have not been asked to give birth to the Savior- but the Lord desires to use us to point others to Jesus, to teach or disciple someone, to minister through preaching or through a musical talent that we possess. We might be like Mary- stunned, unsure of how God will accomplish His desires through us- perhaps we don't think we have anything to give. We find ourselves asking God essentially the same question that Mary asked the angel. "How can this be, Lord? What could possibly be within me that could be used by you?"
The answer to our questions would be the same answer that the angel gave Mary! Let's look at it again and personalize it. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee."
It is in this verse that the Spirit spoke to my heart. God wants to use us- but we often get in the way! It is always through the power of the Spirit that God accomplishes His work in us. But the power of the Highest must OVERSHADOW us!!
We must allow ourselves to be controlled by the Spirit. We must be led by the Spirit. So often we want to accomplish "great things" for God through our own strength, our own way, and for our own glory- yet that is not how it works. For it is "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6.
I have heard it said "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. I like that! I need to remind myself of that truth more often! God can use ANYBODY, anybody that is willing to be overshadowed by the Spirit of God! God can use anybody that is not looking to take credit. We don't have to have great talents or abilities, we just have to be willing to humble ourselves, surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
Are you standing in the way of what God wants to do in your life? Why not take a moment to ask God if you are in the way? Allow His Spirit to speak to your heart. Take care of any business that you and the Lord might have and then begin to daily submit yourself to the control of the Spirit! I believe we will be surprised by what the Lord can do through us when His Spirit overshadows us!
As you probably know, we are getting ready to enter an election year! Yep, November, 2012 is fast approaching! We are beginning to hear interviews, watch debates and read articles about all the candidates. It will, unfortunately, get ugly between the parties and the candidates.....One thing we will hear is a lot of promises. We will hear something like this, "When elected, I promise........" The question is how many of those promises will they keep???
And so it goes, the trials we face every 4 years here in America. I began to think of all the "promises" that will be made over the next many months and how many of them will be broken after the election. That can really bum you out if you think about it for very long. However, my mind began to dwell on One who has yet to break even one promise He has made. That will make you smile if think about that for any length of time. Yes, we have a Savior, a Heavenly Father who has never broke one promise He has made to us. The Bible says that it is impossible for God to lie. Truth = God. All the promises we have are found in His Word and we stand upon His Word. All the promises of God are "yes" and "amen"! (II Corinthians 1:20-22)
God has left us hundreds of promises in His Word and we can claim them in good times and bad. We don't have a God who is like the shifting sand. His promises are good from the moment He spoke them and through eternity. God is not a politician with hopes of getting reelected, making promises trying to win votes. No! Christ was crowned King of Kings a long, long time ago and that title is not up for grabs! The King of Kings that was, still is, and will be throughout all eternity! God's promises are not dependent on the economy, or the votes of the House or the Senate and there is not one person who has the power to veto what God has promised! Hallelujah!
However, we must realize that some of God's promises are contingent upon our obedience. I have heard it so many times from others, and sad to say that I have done this very thing.....quoting a promise from God but not obeying God at the time- still claiming the promise of God. What do I mean? Well, I have had people talk to me sad about a need that wasn't met, a hope shattered, and they will read a certain verse to me that they claimed and now they doubt God because they feel He didn't come through for them.....but there was one problem.....they weren't walking with God.....the promise they claimed was contingent upon their obedience to God. We can't claim all the promises of God if we are not walking in obedience to Him.
Let me give a few examples. Romans 10:13- "For whosoever shall call upon the the name of the Lord shall besaved." The promise of salvation is a promise that is ours to claim for all time. God doesn't remove our salvation in our moments of disobedience. (Such grace is not a license to sin- but this great grace is something that is ours to rest in at all times!)
John 14:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you"- This is another promise that we can claim at all times. The presence of God is with His children at all times. While we may walk away from Him, He never walks away from us.
Romans 8:1- There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus....."- Another promise that the child of God can claim at any time. We will never, no never face the condemnation of our Father.
But how about Matthew 6:33- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."- the promise comes after the instruction given to us to seek first the Kingdom of God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths" The promise comes after the instruction.
Malachi 3:10, the promises of God opening up the storehouses of heaven and pouring out a blessing so great that we cannot receive it is contingent upon us bringing the tithes and offerings of our first fruits to Him.
These are just a few of the examples. My question is, where are you at today in your walk with the Lord? I ask myself that same question. Are we living like the world yet trying to claim promises that are contingent upon our obedience. We can do that all we want- but I fear that it will be an exercise we will carry out in vain.
You want to live in all the promises of God, do I? Then friend, we must walk in obedience.
Take comfort in those promises of God today. I know, we have a life time of experiencing broken promises, deceptions and embellishments from those in the world that we should be able to trust.....but we do not serve a God who lies or deceives or embellishes! No!! A thousand times NO! We serve a God who cannot lie, who will not lie and we have a whole Book that gives account after account of a God who keeps His Word!!
Testify today to the promises God has kept in your life. People need encouragement, they need to hear from you about the God you serve. Share Christ with someone today.
Are you walking in disobedience?.....ok. We serve a God that allows U-Turns! Just turn around you will find Him right there to embrace you. We serve a God who just doesn't "leave the porch light on" in case we want to come home. He is awake and sees us from afar off and runs to meet us. We serve a Shepherd who leaves the ninety and nine to look for His one lost sheep! Hallelujah!
Christians can live without a lot of things- but there is one thing that we cannot live without....CONVICTIONS!
The time to set our convictions is not when we are in the fire but rather TODAY. What will we take a stand for...what would we die for? WOW! Even writing that statement gives me some chills. Yet as I listen to the agenda of Satan being carried forth in this world through abortions, pornography, drugs, alcohol, homosexuality and a multitude of other sexual sins, and the atheist goal of destroying all that is a part of America's godly heritage, I know that I better be set in what I am willing to stand for and what I must stand against.
The Old Testament book of Daniel is about a man of convictions. A Godly man who had purposed in his heart what he would and would not do.
Daniel 1:8- But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.
It is easier to resist temptation when our convictions are set in stone prior to the temptation arising.
When Daniel chose to obey God over the king's decree- he found himself being thrown into the lion's den. Daniel had purposed in his heart that he would obey God over man long before being thrown into the lion's den.
Daniel had 3 friends named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Many of us might remember being told about these men when we were little. These 3 men were wise like Daniel. In fact we read their story in the book of Daniel. At Daniel's request, the King appointed these men to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon.
When these 3 men refused to bow down to the king- they were brought before the king and questioned concerning the charge against them. Let's look at their reply:
Daniel 3: 16-18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
These were not 3 men who just spoke "off the cuff" when brought before the king. These were 3 men who had long ago purposed in their heart whom they would serve....only the Lord God Almighty!
We are in the midst of times and will continue to face times when we will be called to stand for Christ. Are we ready? Have we purposed in our heart that we will not bow down to any other god, and that we will never go against our God.
Friends, now is the time, today is the day to have these issues settled in our mind and heart. We must be unshakable, unmovable, even in the toughest of times. It is not easy, and I fear it will get harder. Yet, Jesus went to the cross for us, we must be willing to do the same for Him should that be asked of us.
Now is the time to get to know the Savior- now is the time to plant His Word in your mind and in your heart. Now is the time to call upon Him to help you take a stand. And while we pray for this world to repent and turn back to the One True God, we stand ready to follow Jesus even if no one goes with us.
Dare to be a Daniel! This was a song I learned as a little girl but it still fits today. Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! (remembering, while we may stand alone humanly speaking, Jesus always stands beside us!)
To God be the glory! I love you dear readers and I lift you up in prayer. If you have any prayer request, please don't hesitate to share them with me. I would love to join you in praying for the concerns of your heart!
