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About This Author
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Each Day Already is a Challenge
A Texas Sunrise
 
A friend, William Taylor, took this picture. He visits Surfside Beach with his dogs almost every morning, watching the sun rise while the dogs prance about at the water's edge.
This is only about ten miles from where I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sadly, I only visited this beach about four times in the six years I lived nearby.
Each day is a challenge. A challenge to get by without thinking about the fibromyalgia pains. A challenge to stay awake when chronic fatigure wants to take over. And a challenge to navigate through fibro fog.
I haven't been writing as much as in the past. For years, I wrote at least 500 words a day. Now, I'm lucky if I write 500 words in month. Sigh.
For more information about what my day (or life) is all about with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pains, IBS, depression and everything else thrown in, check this out:
Previous ... - 1- 2 ... Next
August 31, 2007 at 8:39am August 31, 2007 at 8:39am
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Well lookeee there. An entry for every day in August. Who woulda thunk?
The past couple of days have been tough. Or maybe it's been a week now.I'm not sure when it started... But, boy oh boy, am I tired. Chronic fatigue has hit with a vengence. No amount of sleep makes it better. I just feel like I need to sleep. Could too, any time - day or night. I'm not liking this very much. 
Maybe it's because of the high heat and humidity we've had for a month now. Maybe that's getting to me. Funny, huh? Since I used to live in TX and FL and went through this every year?
Seems that I may have gotten used to it NOT being so hot in the summer. But I HAVE NOT gotten used to it getting cold in the winter. I still hate winters. I still loathe snow. Oh, it's pretty to SEE - if you're inside in the warm looking out at the snow through a window.
*******
I heard from my son last night. He was in a bit of a panic. Said he probably needs me to wire some money to him for motel for the rest of his stay.
Seems Allison's mom is still mad at him for breaking up with Allison. Derek and Allison HAVE stayed friends. Talk every day. And were planning this week to be a time to discover or rediscover what they still mean to each other. I guess instead of letting them do that, instead of letting them walk down memory lane and ponder different future possibilities, the mom is just being ugly.
Hopefully they've worked some things out, 'cause he was going to call back and tell me how much money he needed to borrow. But he never did. Guess I'll check with him later in the day to make sure everything has been smoothed over.
Why do parents stick their noses where they don't belong? I hate to say it, but the mom's attitude might just make Derek think that a future with Allison would not be a wise decision. After all 1) the mom is a bit of a pain 2) Allison likes living in Memphis - near her mom and 3) women often end up like their mothers - even when they think it will be otherwise. Or when they try to make sure that doesn't happen.
Just ask me and my two sisters. We each have a bit of Mom in us - and not always the best parts. 
In the time since Allison went back to Memhis, I think Derek has grown and Allison has not. I think she will, once she's situated in Spain - away from her mom and her old stomping grounds. She'll be forced to grow and mature a bit. A year in another country should be a growing experience.
Oh well. This mom tries not to meddle. I'm just here. For Derek and for Allison too. If they want to talk, to vent, to cry.
Still...when Derek's computer wasn't working and he was researching which one to buy to replace it, he had to use my computer. The computer he used when he was 13-18. The computer that has lots of pictures of Allison on it from that same time when she was 11-16. He remembered how cute and perky she was. How much fun she was.
I wonder where that girl went? I think Derek was wondering the same thing. And hoping she was hiding somewhere...
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August 30, 2007 at 5:01pm August 30, 2007 at 5:01pm August 29, 2007 at 6:41pm August 29, 2007 at 6:41pm
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I struggle with how to respond to well meaning Christian friends who say, "If you just prayed harder..." or "If you just believed more...". They seem to think that my chronic pain is my own fault, that if I prayed harder God would take away my pain away.
When I'm having a bad day, comments like this really get to me. I begin to wonder if these well meaning folks might just be right.
Then I remember that Jesus asked that to take the cup from him.
Mark 14:35-36 NIV
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
And I remember that Paul asked three times that his affliction be taken away.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Although I cannot really rejoice and be glad FOR my trials, I can learn to be thankful IN them.
James 1:2-4 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
I think I am able to do that. I think I am able be joyful in spite of my pains and ailments. That was proven at the hearing before a judge last month about my Social Security disability claim. The judge commented, "All of your doctors have noted that in spite of your pain, you appear to be happy."
I am happy. Even today when the pain is so great that even my skin and my scalp hurt and the thought of anyone or anything touching me makes me cringe.
When the thought of human touch makes me back away because the pain is so great, God chooses at that moment to wrap His arms around me and give me a heavenly hug. And I can go on. I can perservere. After all, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) |
August 28, 2007 at 9:26am August 28, 2007 at 9:26am August 28, 2007 at 1:04am August 28, 2007 at 1:04am August 28, 2007 at 12:44am August 28, 2007 at 12:44am
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Most of us think we we're safe from harm. We don't think we'll be hurt in car accidents or at work. But sometimes it happens. That's when you realize that the world is not such a wonderful place.
I was injured on the job in Florida in 1997. It happened after I had worked about 3 1/2 months at my job. But you know what? Florida has this formula for computing what kind of benefits one receives. They went back 13 weeks from the day I was injured and computed my weekly pay on that. It was my first week on the job and I was in training and worked only 13 hours that week. So...my worker's compensation was computed as if 13 hours a week was my normal pay. I received 80% of 13 hours at my regular pay amount. There was no getting around this decision. That was the way things were computed. I don't know what would have happened if I had only been on the job for 2 or 3 weeks when I was injured.
Florida was pretty good about treating my back even when I moved to Texas. But they finally got tired of the whole thing and said that I could choose receiving treatment for my back for life or $10,000 so that I could get treatment when/where I chose. I would have opted for the treatment for life, but my attorney was having no part of that. He said it was because Florida was known for saying they would pay for lifetime treatments, then change their decision 2 or 3 years later. I'm pretty sure my attorney suggested I take the settlement so that he could get his 25% cut.
In 2002, I was injured on the job in Texas. I had only been there for abut 6 weeks and, thankfully, they didn't compute earnings like Florida. I received 80% of my normal pay for 11 months. Then, after having my knee checked out first by a foot doctor and then by a hand doctor, it was decided that I had reached "maximum medical improvement." As soon as that decision was given, the checks stopped. I could not go back to work, but since the docs said I would not improve, the checks stopped. I never did understand that.  .
That's when I started the process of trying to get Social Security Disability. Since then, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Still, like most folks who apply for SSD, I have been denied twice. That's just the way the system normally works. It isn't fair. It isn't right. But that's the way things work.
And that's why I'm reminding you of this. Because the system is unfair and you or someone you love may need it someday.
I belong to an MSN Group called Social Security Disability Coalition. Here is a link to a petition to change Social Seciruty Disability. I hope you'll take a look and sign it.
http://www.petitiononline.com/SSDC/petition.html
And here's a link to a free online book called America's War On The Disabled: 1975-1992: (A History of the Social Security Disability Reviews of the 1980's) by Tennise Broeck Morse. http://members.tripod.com/~TBMorse/freebook.html The author says, "If you feel this book has value PLEASE: tell at least one other person about it and how to find it. Mention it on your homepage, link to it, put it on your forum as a topic for discussion, post it on a bulletin board, or write a letter or e-mail about it to an individual or a group." So be sure to pass on this link. It took Ms. Morse longer than most to receive here disability benefits. And she has multiple sclerosis.
Every time I think about the struggles that everyone has with getting Social Security Disabilty, I think Life's not fair, but God is good.
By the way... You really need to come and visit me at Gather.com. Check it out. It's free. And now you can even upload your videos. Click here. Now!
http://www.gather.com/inviteLanding.jsp?parentMemberId=223207&tc=14
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August 27, 2007 at 8:48pm August 27, 2007 at 8:48pm
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Every day - and sometimes multiple times throughout the day - I get email alerts from http://www.newswithviews.com. When a new article is posted, I get an alert.
I've said it before. Some of the articles on News With Views are pretty strange. They're written by folks who cannot get their views covered in the mainstream media. Even so, I believe it is valuable to read articles from this source. Sometimes I discover news that the liberal media chooses to ignore, even though it is of importance to many Americans.
Today, for instance, I learned that, "The state of Oklahoma recently approved a new law that requires deportation for illegal aliens who are arrested, and limits benefits and jobs to those individuals. "
The article I read said that hispanics are leaving Oklahoma because of this new law, scheduled to go into effect on October 1. It also said, "Officials say many of those departing apparently are heading either to Kansas or Arkansas. But that may not be for long, since Arkansas is about to adopt a law similar to Oklahoma's, and Kansas is considering a similar move. "
Billboards have surfaced questioning this new law and the fact that it promotes hate. On one TV station's forum, there was this response, "We need to put up more signs that say: OKIES don't hate illegal immigrants they just want them legal! Deport all illegal immigrants now."
Here is the link for this whole story:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57313
I also get an email each day called CR Daily. It is a reminder of new articles submitted to The Church Report Online.
Today the topics included:
Fred Thompson to Announce in September.
http://www.thecronline.com/news_article.php?nid=2947&ndate=24/08/2007
Louisiana College to Create a Christian Law School.
http://www.thecronline.com/news_article.php?nid=2946&ndate=24/08/2007
Malaysian Paper Apology for Jesus Image.
http://www.thecronline.com/news_article.php?nid=2944&ndate=24/08/2007
Perhaps it's because I worked for a newspaper and discovered how "news" was chosen that I find it necessary to seek news and current events from several kinds of sources each day.
Where do you find your news?
And...do YOU think this new Oklahoma law is about hate? Or is it about doing what should have been done all along?
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August 26, 2007 at 2:09am August 26, 2007 at 2:09am
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When you have an injury or chronic pain, doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, etc. want to know about your level of pain on a scale of 1 to 10. When I had my time in front of the Social Security judge last month, he also wanted to know about the level of pain that I have on a daily basis.
It helps to know how a person defines pain. They usually tell you that level 10 is the worst pain you have ever experienced.
For me, remembering the worst pain(s) I've ever had is easy.
First there were the two times that I have been burned. Not many people have the same identical burn injuries twice in a lifetime.
The first time I was burned was in about 1976. I was heating water on the stove in a tea kettle. When it started to whistle, I grabbed the kettle to make a cup of instant coffee. At that moment, our new Irish Setter puppy came running into the kitchen and bumped into me just as I was pouring the hot, steamy water into the cup. I had 2nd and 3rd degree burns from my fingertips to my elbow, on my left hand/arm. (I'm left handed.) I was screaming in pain when my then spouse drove into the driveway. From the sounds of my screams, he thought I was being killed. I think I wished...
In 1983, I had the same injury! Again, I was heating water to make instant coffee. Again a dog (adult, not puppy) bumped into me as I was pouring. Again I was burned from my fingertips to my elbow on my left hand/arm. 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Different spouse, different city, different dog. Same kind of burn.
In spite of having serious burns, I have no scars. They really do have some excellent burn creams that help in healing. I guess it also helped that I went to the hospital every day to have them dress the wounds. There was no way I could handle getting rid of dead skin and bandaging my own hand and arm.
Each of these deserve a level 10 on the pain scale.
My son was born in 1984. I had labor pains for about 14 hours before the doc decided to do a C-section. At one point, I opted for an epidural and rather than stopping the pains, they were transferred to my chest area. I had labor pains in my chest and thought I was having a heart attack. That caused me and the baby to have too much trauma, and that's when the C-section was scheduled. Those pains were what I think of as level 10.
In 1985, an 85 year old lady ran a red light and hit my car. The car was totaled. I had no broken bones, but boy was I bruised, especially where the seat belt grabbed me. Some of the bruising deserved a 10.
In 1997, I hurt my back at work. It was a stupid injury. I was unpacking boxes in the storage room of the gift store at Bok Tower Gardens. I thought the box I was lifting held books, but it only held cards. There's quite a difference in the weight of books and cards, and when I lifted the box thinking it contained books, I was caught off guard at how light the box really was (with only cards in it). I lost my balance and twisted my back. I have been dealing with that ever since. When I first injured my back and for days afterwards, the pain level reached 10.
In 2002, I hurt my knee at work. Again, it was a stupid injury. I was working in the boys' department of a department store. It was nearing Easter, and we had lots of suits and ties to hang. I reached down into a box to get out some ties and lost my balance. I landed on a chair nearby, hurting my already hurting back. But as I lost my balance I also heard a loud crack. That was my knee injury. My co-workers also heard the "crack" and went to get help even before I asked. At the time of the injury, my pain was at level 10.
In 2004, I went to the emergency room with chest pains. Definitely level 10.
These are how I define level 10 pain. Zero pain level is just what it says - no pain.
Most days, I wake up with about level 6 pain all over my body, with level 6-8 in my knee and back. Sometimes I can get the pain down to a level 4-5, but without knocking myself out, I can't take enough pain medicine to be totally pain free.
Back in Michigan a few years ago, one "lovely" (as hubby says, not my word for him) doctor informed me that pain was never a disabling factor.
Really? Boy, oh boy, it was hard to maintain my good Christian attitude with that doctor. You know I wanted to wish some of my pain on him. But I didn't...
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August 25, 2007 at 11:51am August 25, 2007 at 11:51am
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Isn't it funny, how the mind wanders? Last night in my dreams, I had a profound thought, something about which I knew I should write. In the old days, I would have wakened, turned on the light beside my bed and written that thought down in the notebook that always sat on the nightstand beside my bed. But that was before fibromyalgia hit. Now when I sleep, I sleep deeply. The same thoughts race across my mind in my sleep, but I cannot or do not waken to write them down. Sometimes I remember them later. Sometimes they are lost for a day or a week or a month. Sometimes they never resurface. 
Try as I might, I cannot remember what was so important last night in my dreams. But in pondering, other thoughts have raced to be first in line.
For some reason, I remembered learning to write in cursive. Second grade. Mrs. Clauser. I'm left handed, but I don't put my paper at funny angles to write, nor do I curl up my hand upside-down as some left handers do. That's thanks to Mrs. Clauser. She placed one of those pink erasers on my hand as I practiced writing. If the eraser fell off - because I was allowing my hand to take up a funny position - she would come by my desk, slap my hand and put the eraser back in place.
Oddly enough, I learned to write upside-down almost as well as I learned to write right-side up. I practiced that at home, though. I also learned to write backwards.
Perhaps that's why it didn't come as a surprise when Derek learned to recognize the alphabet upside down just as easily as right side up. What did come as a surprise was that it was at the age of two that he could do that.
Back then, we called each other whatever our names would be backwards. It was our code, one we thought no one would crack. Nyliram was my name backwards. I answered to that for years.
See where the mind goes...
When I was called to write on the chalkboard, I discovered that I could write with either my right or left hand. For some reason, making bigger strokes across the chalkboard allowed me to write with either hand. I never could write on paper with my right hand, because I couldn't get the positioning of the pen or pencil right. But on the chalkboard, I wrote with either hand. (My friends thought that was really cool.  )
School funding and school costs crossed my mind as I was trying to bring that profound thought from my dreams. Strange. Schools never seem to have enough money anymore. They're always complaining about that, cutting programs, wanting to raise taxes.
Back in the dinosaur days when I was a kid, we didn't need as many administrators. We did didn't need as many of any school employees, actually. We had one secretary in my elementary school, a school of about 600 kids from kindergarten through fifth grade. There were no computers to keep track of attendance or grades. All of that was done manually. At lunch time, the school secretary joined the teachers in the lounge. I often ate my lunch in the office. I was a fifth grader and a patrol, and my "job" was to answer the school phones and to be there in case a visitor came in while the staff ate lunch.
Fifth grade patrols ate their lunches with the younger kids, so the teachers could eat together. Afterwards on the playground, maybe one or two teachers would be assigned to watching. But the fifth grade patrols were to watch out for the younger kids. I was orginally assigned to a second grade class, but they were almost as big as me and didn't really want to listen.
That's why my permanent assignment ended up being that I answering phones in the office. Adults usually called or dropped by the office during lunch time. And adults were easier for me to handle.
In Texas in about 97-98, I used to have to pick up my niece from her school to take her to dentist appointments and such. Her elementary school had about six office personnel in a school no bigger than the one where I went. I always wondered why there were so many...
We didn't have a full time music teacher. For "regular" music, our regular teachers were supposed to be able to teach us. That was part of being an elementary school teacher! But we also had a real music teacher who came by about two days a week. The other days, he spent at other elementary schools in our district. Two at another school and one at a smaller one. So one music teacher was shared by three schools. If today's schools did that, they could save money. Right. Rather than considering going back to something like this, they choose to just do away with music teachers. Dumb.
Same thing with art teachers. In elementary school, our regular teachers had to know something about teaching art too. But we had a real art teacher who came by once a week for special projects. Schools could do that today too, keeping art as something important in schools, instead of just dumping it.
Some kids took up playing instruments so that they could get out of regular classes a few times a week for lessons. That wasn't my reason for deciding to play the violin. Frankly, I don't know why I ended up playing the violin. Perhaps it was because of the fiddle player I watched on The Lawrence Welk Show.  Or perhaps it was the least expensive choice for my parents. I really don't know. But I did play it from 2nd grade through 12th grade...and haven't really touched a violin since. I was good...but I walked away from it.
Anyway, I was wondering what the kids did who didn't take lessons. I never really thought about that before until today. They had to do something... I just never knew (or cared, I guess) what.
Our junior and senior high schools also had less personnel than today's schools. And, as a baby boomer, my schools were filled with kids, sometimes in places where there were not supposed to be classes. (Like basements!) And yet, there could be fewer staff than today. One reason? We were respectful of adults. They didn't need lots of folks to keep us in line.
In high school, we had a principal and one vice principal who were able to handle a school with over 2500 kids. They also handled the first school strike while I was there, SDS girls streaking topless through the hallways and a race riot. Oh, I imagine they might have called on a few local cops now and then to help out, but normally they were able to handle eveything quite nicely. We certainly didn't have a regular cop on duty.
I remember when I was in Florida (86-97)...and heard that one high school nearby had four vice principals for a school with 1200 kids. Plus a full time truancy officer. I wondered what all those vice principals did...
So that's where the mind wandered this morning. I still have no idea what I was thinking last night in my dreams that seemed so important. Perhaps it will come to me again. Perhaps not.
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August 24, 2007 at 1:59pm August 24, 2007 at 1:59pm
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When I saw the first mention of Kid Nation, I wondered about the show. I had some bad feelings...
I didn't see the ABC mention of CBS' Kid Nation this morning, but I did find it on Yahoo when I logged on. It seems my fears about this show were probably right on.
First, I have to wonder what the parents were thinking. Seriously. They all signed 22 page contracts giving CBS and the Kid Nation producers the right to tell their kids what to do and how to do it for 40 days. For $5,000. There's a confidentialty clause that says they'll be fined $5 million if they come forward and share "secrets" about the show.
The parents took their children - ages 8 to 15 - out of school to be on this show last Spring. A show where the kids were in charge of themselves. Except where CBS might tell them they had to do things or couldn't do things.
What were the parents thinking????????
And CBS? They selected a state that has more lax laws about child labor? I always thought there were federal laws about child labor. The kids had no running water. Obviously no sanitary conditions, if there was not even running water. CBS didn't announce their presence, like they would usually do when setting up a TV show anywhere in the country. They quietly sneaked in, filmed for 40 days, and by the time authorities were alerted, they were gone. The reason? They were doing something quite out of the ordinary. Illegal? Probably. If these kids were real TV actors, they would have had teachers on the set. They would have only been allowed to work for a certain number of hours and days each week.
Here's what ABC had to say about this today. And a TV critic...who said the trailers made him want to puke.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/223/popup/index.php?cl=3824834
Are you outraged about this? I am - at both CBS and the parents.
There are quite a few CBS shows that hubby and I watch. We're not ones who have to watch shows every time they're on. But we have been known to watch these shows: CSI, Shark, NCIS, Numbers, Jericho, Cold Case, Without a Trace.
The TV critic in the ABC clip thinks that Kid Nation will never air. I hope he's right. I've done my part. I went to CBS feedback to let them know that even though I enjoy a number of CBS shows, I'll give up watching every one of them if this show airs.
But that's just me...
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August 24, 2007 at 10:47am August 24, 2007 at 10:47am
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Faith Works - Part 5
Word Up, Word Active
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 NKJV
 Adjust our lives for the Word of God.
...so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His varvelous light... 1 Peter 2:9 NASB
...so not offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. Romans 6:19 NIV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
Jesus didn't ask the disciples to come and discuss with him, he said, "Come and follow me."
We have to do #1 above to do #2 below...
Accept the Word of God.
He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 NIV
We have to hear, understand, then produce.
Attitudes for access:
Try to listen. James 1:19a Be quick to listen...
Seek to learn. James 1:19b ...slow to speak...
Be laid back. James 1:19b ...and slow to become angry...
We have two eyes and one mouth for a reason. We're supposed to listen more than speak.
Assimilate the Word of God.
Jemas 1:21 NRSV for if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;
James 1:24 NSRV ...for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV For the word of God is living and active...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Read the Word.
James 1:24a NCV But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free...
Here the word study means to "stoop down and gaze in."
Three questions I need to ask before reading God's Word:
What can I learn from this?
What is God trying to tell me?
How can this make me a better believer today?
One promise I need to make before reading God's Word:
Whatever I read I promise to obey.
Ruminate on the Word.
Do you know what ruminate means? Chew on and chew on again (as in cows and cud), meditate on, ponder.
Here's an interesting observation. Worry is negative meditation. Ponder that one...
James 1:25b NCV But the truly happy people are those who...continue to study it.
If God is trying to tell me something, what is the...
Promise I need to claim.
Problem I need to confess.
Purpose I need to practice.
Praise I need to acknowledge.
James 1:25c NCV They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.
Act on the Word.
James 1:22 NIV Do not merely listen to the wod, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:25 GW However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say.
John 13:17 NIV Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
James 1:26-27 TLB Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn't worth much. The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father's point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord - not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world.
Character confirmation.
Take control over your mouth.
To care enough to work your faith.
Stay clean in an unholy environment.
Maturity is how much change in character there has been.
When it comes to studying the Bible, there are more auditors than students. (Remember college days? You could audit a class and not have to take any notes or tests or really learn anything? You could just sit in.)
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August 24, 2007 at 10:10am August 24, 2007 at 10:10am
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I asked a question in a moderator forum - because the question had been posed to me. I thought I would dump it here as well.
The E rating says that there will be no reference to violence. If one writes a children's story about Jesus that merely mentions that Jesus died, that should qualify as an E-rated story, right? Death isn't necessarily violent, although we know that in the case of Jesus' death...
If one uses the phrase "died on the cross", which implies violence, does that change the rating to ASR or 13+? If so, then how does one write a children's story about Jesus?
I have to admit that as a child, I didn't know that the death of Jesus on the cross was a violent experience. Even as an adult for a while, I guess I chose to not think about what happened too much. It wasn't until I read the words of a doctor about what would have happened to Jesus that I realized the full extent of the wounds and the pain. Then, of course just a few years ago when the Mel Gibson movie came out, I cried like everyone else in the theater when I saw how horrible it must have been.
Received in my inbox today: Ohio Bans the Name of Jesus from the Statehouse. http://www.newswithviews.com/Johnston/patrick13.htm This article points out that at the same time that Jefferson penned the words "separation of church and state" in a letter to a pastor, he was presiding over public schools in Washington, D.C. where the books used to teach were a Bible and a hymnal.
This article mentions this Supreme Court ruling in 1892. It's rather dull reading until towards the end where it shows why, indeed, this was a Christian nation, at the beginning and still in 1892. It says, "These and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation." http://home.aol.com/TestOath/HolyTrinityOp1-2.htm
The first article also provided a link to something about secular humanism and whether or not it is/was a religion. Interesting reading. Sounds like it's considered a religion when it's convenient and not a religion when someone wants it to be taught in schools.
http://members.aol.com/Patriarchy/definitions/humanism_religion.htm
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August 23, 2007 at 9:05pm August 23, 2007 at 9:05pm
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I'm stuffed. Hubby and I celebrated his birthday at Outback Steakhouse. He had a steak, of course. I ate pasta with chicken and ham. We tried to bring home some cheese fries for Derek, but didn't realize they put bacon on top. That doesn't work for a vegetarian.
Jake is turning into quite a mamma's boy. He follows me around. I guess that's understandable since he's been in 4 homes in the last month. He and Piewacket are getting along okay, but he's still terrorizing Opera. She moves around so quickly that he just has to bark at her. And chase her. |
August 22, 2007 at 1:52pm August 22, 2007 at 1:52pm
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If you read yesterday's entry (you did read yesterday's entry, right??) you know that Jake arrived safely and became an instant part of our family. And you know that someone near and dear to me is struggling with marital problems.
What I didn't mention is a little mishap yesterday morning.
Jake's foster mom told us that he had not been sleeping through the night. He really hated being crated, and was waking every night about 3 a.m. She thought he would do much better sleeping outside the crate, but were worried that if he had to go outside at 3 a.m. we would either be angry or not wake up, causing him to have an accident.
When Piewacket first came to live with us, she used to wake up at 3 a.m. every night also. (I wonder what it is about that time of night???) She just needed to be reminded that she was not alone and was welcome to join us in the bedroom. Hubby would mimic her meows and she would usually find her way to the bedroom and plop down on the bed. End of story.
So...we weren't too worried about the 3 a.m. wake-up calls. I guess that just goes with having a new "baby" in the house.
But Jake didn't wake up at 3 a.m. that first night. Maybe it was because he was up later than he had been "on the farm." He slept beside me all night.
Since I didn't have to pick up Derek at work, I slept in too. Actually, I woke up at 7 a.m. like I always do and cannot figure out why. (Some noise in the neighborhood?) Rather than disturb Jake, I went back to sleep.
At about 8ish, I got up and got dressed so I could take Jake out right away. I guess I didn't have the leash secured firmly in my hand when we stepped off the porch. A squirrel ran from our front tree to the sidewalk and Jake followed in pursuit.
The leash flew from my hands and I dove after it. Yes, I said dove. I guess I thought I was an athlete. You know... a football player making a tackle or a baseball player sliding home. Like that, I dove. And I landed on my face.
The squirrel took off into the street, and I yelled for Jake. I guess the sound of my voice brought him back. I went into the house, asked Derek to walk Jake and went into the bathroom to access the damage I had done to my body by diving.
I had a small scrape on upper right thigh and on my lower left leg. I had a small brush burn on my face. Well, two small brush burns. (I looked like hubby does sometimes when he shaves in the morning. )
Not too bad, I thought. Hopefully the neighbors had not seen my strange dive in the yard. I thought the embarassment was worse than the damage I did to my body.
Then a few hours later, my right hand and wrist started hurting. Uh oh. Here I am 55 years old, and I have never broken a bone yet. My hand appeared just a bit swolen, but not what I would expect from a break. Still the pain continued...
About 2:15 I called my doctor's office to see if any doctor in her group could see me. One had a 2:30 opening, so off I went. The doc agreed that there wasn't much swelling, but given the amount of pain I was in by then, ordered some x-rays.
You know what the difference is between getting x-rays at the doc's office and at the hospital emergency room? Well...there's a huge difference in cost, for one thing. X-rays at the doc's are soooooooooooooo much cheaper. They don't have to charge for the room and the machine and the technician and the...well, you get the picture.
There's also a difference in the time in reading said x-rays. In the emergency room, the x-rays are read right away. It's an emergency, after all. In the doc's office? Well, those x-rays taken yesterday afternoon were to be read this morning and the doc was to get the info back this afternoon.
I haven't heard anything yet. I'm still in pain. Not moving the hand/wrist/arm real well. (Not supposed to in case there is somehting broken.) And on some strong pain medications - although I can take half-dosage.
We've had one walk today without incident. And Jake is definitely more at ease today. Yesterday he followed me around everywhere I went. Except the bathroom. While Opera chooses to come into the bathroom while we're doing our thing, Jake chooses to wait outside the door.
Anyway, as I was saying. Yesterday he followed me around. He sat on the chair beside me if I was on the computer - staying wide awake, probably so he could watch and make sure I didn't disappear.
I did disappear, going to get the x-rays in the afternoon, and when I returned he was all full of doggie love and kisses.
But today, he ate, completed his walk and then disappeared somewhere in the house. When I went to look for him, I found him fast asleep on our bed.
Opera is quite happy about that. Periodically, she checks on him to make sure he's still napping. Then she proceeds to play and romp like she used to before Jake arrived.
I'm sure they'll work all that out eventually.
I guess I should call the doc's office soon to see if I have a break or just a sprain. |
August 21, 2007 at 9:35am August 21, 2007 at 9:35am
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Hubby and I picked up Jake in Georgetown, KY. He did his business there, then had a quiet drive in the car to our house. He slept most of the way. When we got to the house, Jake and I got out and hubby headed to the gas station.
Jake walked right up to the door, just like he did the first time he came to visit. We went inside and he detected that there was someone in the house, so he barked. Already the guard dog. That someone was Derek, of course, and they said hello, then I took Jake back outside to explore and, well, you know.
Jake likes his new home. He slept right next to me last night. He did wake up a few times - like when he barked at Derek going to the bathroom - but he did have a good night. Opera keeps slinking around after him and he knows it, so he barks at her. They'll have to work that out. Piewacket is just ignoring him all together.
On to another topic...
Someone near and dear to me discovered recently that her husband has been cheating on her for quite a while. She suspected it, but just recently got proof. Some of the cheating takes place on the internet, where he has chat sessions and emails with women that he should not have. Not as a married man. Not as a Christian who is supposed to follow God's way.
Some of the cheating takes place on the telephone - most likely during his lunch hours and those times when it takes him three hours to shop for a few items at the store. Or those times when it takes him twice as long to get home from work than it should, and the news has no reports of accidents on the highway.
There's no proof yet about any local, in person, cheating, but those times above might be an indication of that as well.
There are at least four individuals with whom this supposed Christian husband is having intimate internet sessions. Each one probably believes she is the only one. But how silly is that? Each one knows he is married and cheating on his wife. Shouldn't they realize that he would do the same thing to them?
The woman involved says that her husband tells her every day that she is special, that he loves her, that she's the best thing that ever happened to him. Then he rushes to his computer to tell several other women the same thing. How sick is that?
I really don't know what advice to give. I do think that this fake Christian man should stop preparing and giving Bible lessons.
But what do I tell her? |
August 20, 2007 at 1:34pm August 20, 2007 at 1:34pm
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Each morning, I get a motivational quote from quoteland.com. Sometimes calling them motivational quotes is stretching it, but I attribute that to the fact that they're trying to find 365 different sayings. I did like today's quote.
"What this country needs is more people to inspire others with confidence, and fewer people to discourage any initiative in the right direction; more to get into the thick of things, fewer to sit on the sidelines, merely finding fault; more to point out what's right with the world, and fewer to keep harping on what's wrong with it; and more who are interested in lighting candles, and fewer who blow them out. ~ Father James Keller
Yep, I have to agree. Wise words, don't you think?
As you recall, I had a bit of a disagreement with my doctor about taking drugs to lower my cholesterol - because they had affected my liver once before after only 2 weeks. I wasn't willing to take that risk again, unless 100% necessary. Since then, I have been researching things that can lower one's cholesterol more naturally - diet changes and supplements. I have also discovered quite a few doctors and researchers who don't believe that cholesterol should be lowered, nor that high cholesterol is what causes heart problems. It's all a bit confusing, not being a medical professional, but it certainly appears to me that studies conducted by or paid for (even partially) by drug companies tend to show that cholesterol causes heart problems and should be lowered - by drugs, of course. Studies conducted independently seem to lean in the opposite direction - high cholesterol is not the reason for heart problems, etc.
Today, we got a magazine/advertisement from Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. The commercials all call Christ Hospital the "heart hospital."
There was an article about women and heart problems. It said, "In the United States, more women than men die of heart disease every year."
And, "Women's main misperception is that breast cancer is their biggest risk, when in fact, women are seven times more likely to die of heart disease."
Here is the new Reynolds Risk Score page for women to discover their heart disease risk factor. The only number I did not have to plug into this was the hcCRP number. That's the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). That substance might play a role in heart disease. This number is higher with inflammation, so since I didn't have a real number available, I chose a big number - considering that I'm in pain a lot and probably have high inflammation. http://www.reynoldsriskscore.org
Even with putting the high number in for hsCRP, my risk score computed as 1% at my age now (55), 3% in 10 years, 5% in 20 years and 14% in 30 years, if the numbers remain the same. I have to tell you that I'm a bit relieved. And I do intend to ask my doctor if they happened to do the hsCRP test when I had my last physical. And to show her my Reynolds Risk Score.
Do you read USA Weekend that comes in some Sunday newspapers? This week, Dr. Tedd Mitchell had an article titled, "Driving While Distracted." As you can imagine, it talked about cell phone usage. But the article's focus was on young people, especially those with ADHD.
The writer pointed out how many young people have been diagnosed with ADHD in this country - 2 million. He also pointed out that being distracted can happen to those who do not have ADHD. He said, "A text message distracting a student in class may mean ignoring a teacher's point, but a text message distracting a driver may mean ignoring a red light."
Yep, that's a bit frightening. There's more: "The New England Journal of Medicine in 1997 found that using a cellphone while driving quadrupled the risk of a collision."
And...The National Institute of Mental Health said, "Youths with ADHD, in their first two to five years of driving, have nearly four times as many accidents, are more likely to cause bodily injury in accidents, and have three times as many citations for speeding as young drivers without ADHD."
I really had never thought about what having ADHD might mean to a driver. Should we test for that for, say, truck drivers or bus drivers? Perhaps so.
I was still thinking about all of this when I heard breaking news this morning. A man was hit by a train. It seems that he was walking and text messaging and didn't hear the train. He walked onto the tracks and was hit by the train. I guess he was distracted.
We're scheduled to go and get Jake this evening. Have to be at the shelter at 7:30. That may be pushing it, since hubby usually gets home between 5:30 and 6 and the shelter is maybe 90 minutes away. Why didn't I look for a dog closer? I did! Then I saw Jake's picture...And the way he seemed to be at home here when he came to visit... well, I just think it was meant to be.
Getting back in time to get Derek to work might be difficult too, but he's not feeling very well today. He's so sick, in fact, that he's already thinking about calling off work tonight. Always the mom... I hate to seem him feeling poorly.
Guess that's all I have for now.
Oh...except...did you know that sharing that my article ended up on a naked girl's blog meant that my blog entry was viewed by more folks than on a normal day. Figures, huh?
Later gators.
Ooops. There was one more thing. You know that I get "News with Views" delivered to my inbox every day. Some of it is...well, definitely opinionated. Still, it's all thought provoking.
Rudy Takala wrote "Debasing Democracy in America" today. His article reminds us that so many Americans really have no clue about how the government works or how it was originally designed to work. Many do not know who the names of House Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But they have very strong opinions even so. Even if what they think they know is wrong.
He mentioned how we live for sound bites. Because of that, he said, "Republicans should brag that they will never negotiate with anyone; Democrats will brag that they’ll never defend America. If either side actually believed in what they were saying, they would be advocating for the abolition of the State Department or the Department of Defense."
Here's the whole article: http://www.newswithviews.com/Takala/rudy21.htm
Now I'm done. For now.
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August 19, 2007 at 8:58am August 19, 2007 at 8:58am
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Yesterday, we had our home visit. The worker from the shelter came to see our house and ask a few more questions. She brought Jake with her. He sure is a cutey. He's a mixture of Chiuaua and terrier. Black and brown face, white body with black spots.
Karen brought her black Lab with her and he was none to pleased to think he might have to stay in the car. So, she brought Oliver out of the car, while I walked Jake. He marked a few places, then went right up our walkway, on to the porch and pawed at our front door. Just like he knew where he belonged.
Inside, he jumped on the bed to help me waken hubby. He went to the door when he needed to go out again. And he snuggled in my lap and went fast to sleep while Karen and hubby and I talked.
Meanwhile, Piewacket hid, although she did let hubby take her on the leash to show off for Karen. And Opera hid under a cabinet in the kitchen, but wanted to play with the big Lab. He wanted to play with her, but she just pawed at him from beneath the cabinet.
Soon, Karen and Oliver and Jake were ready to leave. For some reason, Jake's current foster parents have to be consulted about what the shelter worker thought about our home, and us and our current pets. Weird, huh? I'm not sure that makes sense.
Letting Jake go bye-bye after bonding like that was difficult. Sure would like him to be a part of our family. I think Tiff will love him!
Okay, I admit to being almost old. When I was a kid, all mothers (and some dads) got involved in the school and education. There was always some mom available for hugging and crying over silly things. They were certainly there for parties, and there seemed to be plenty of reasons to have celebrations. And because they were evident in the classrooms, parents knew what was being taught. Not that they were worried about what was being taught. Back then, adults were in agreement about what was important.
Today? How many parents do you know who actually visit classrooms? How many even look at the text books being used to see if there are things being taught that just don't line up with the family's beliefs? How many are curious enough to find out about special assemblies? When I was a kid, there were always at least a half dozen parents at the back of the auditorium at every assembly.
I was pondering all of that because I got one my News with Views emails this morning. One of the featured articles is titled, "PUBLIC SCHOOLS - PAGAN RELIGION INDOCTRINATION CENTERS." One of the author's questions is this: "Are state-controlled public schools deliberately trying to cripple children’s ability to reason and deal with facts?" Here's the link for more: http://www.newswithviews.com/Turtel/joel46.htm
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 KJV
I just discovered this writing by someone who was in high school just a few years back (compared to when I was in high school). | |  | Invalid Item 
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#1299401 by Not Available. |
Please take note of what was being taught and how religion/faith was stripped from history lessons. How in the world can you teach U.S. history (or that of England or France or Germany...for that matter) without mentioning religion and faith?????????!!!!!!!!!
Yipppppppeeeeeeeeeee! We found out we're getting Jake. Now we just have to figure out a day and time. We'll have to pick him up about an hour+ away in Kentucky.
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August 18, 2007 at 5:21am August 18, 2007 at 5:21am
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So...I put decided to do a Google alert for my name. I know there are other Marilyn Mackenzies out there, but I figured I wouldn't get a tremendous number of the alerts and I was just curious.
Well, sure enough, I got an alert. And don't you know, the alert was about this Marilyn. Cool. Someone decided to use one my articles at ezinearticles.com. That's cool. It's a free content site, and folks are free to use anything for their newsletters as long as they keep my name attached and link back to ezinearticles.com.
Way cool. Look at the article they chose to use! "If So Many Believe in God, Why Doesn't it Show?" The words should be familiar to y'all because they started as a blog entry. http://ezinearticles.com/?If-So-Many-Believe-in-God,-Why-Doesnt-It-Show?&id=3655...
So...I clicked on the URL to see where my words had ended up.
 There were my words - about God - and with my name attached to them.....right next to a woman's naked buns. Well, not totally naked buns. She had a teeny, tiny thong thingy on. I think she was topless too, but everything was covered up by her pose. Yikes.
I have to 'fess up. I didn't just back out of there. But I didn't do any exploring either. What I saw right there was enough. I didn't want to see anything else. But I was curious about why my writings ended up THERE! So I explored that one page only.
Turns out it was a blog and my article was this woman's blog entry for the day.
At first I didn't know what to think. I didn't know if I should ask her to remove my writings, or what. Then I decided that God has quite a sense of humor. There beside this woman's almost naked body are the words, "If So Many Believe in God, Why Doesn't It Show?" Isn't that a hoot?
I decided not to say anything. People going to this bimbo's site are going to be quite surprised at getting a touch of God.
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August 17, 2007 at 12:40am August 17, 2007 at 12:40am
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This continues our pastor's series from James.
Faith Works (Part 4)
Taming Temptation
James 1:12 NIV
Bless is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Don't panic.
†James 1:13 NIV
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."
†1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
†Hebrews 4:15 NLT
This High Priest (Jesus) of our understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, het He did not sin.
You will be tempted. Being saved does not keep temptation away. It is not a sin to be tempted; the sin is giving in to temptation.
Don't pass the buck.
†James 1:13 GW
When someone is tempted, he shouldn't say that God is tempting him. God can't be tempted by evil, and God doesn't tempt anyone.
Quite blaming other people, God, the government, even the devil.
Be prepared.
†James 1:14-16 NCV
But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and traps them. This desire leads to sin, and then the sin grows and brings death. My dear brothers and sisters, do not be fooled about this.
†1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall.
†2 Corinthians 3:11 GW
I don't want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan's scheming.
What we can count on:
 It begins with me.
†James 1:14a MSG
The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us...
God's plan is not about me. Satan's plan is all about me.
He exposes my weaknesses.
†James 1:14 NRSV
But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it.
†James 1:14b MSG
We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.
Any out of control urge is wrong.
He moves me from attention to action.
†James 1:15a NIV
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin...
We go from imagination to fantasy to action.
We are like fish. We think we can nibble and nibble and nibble at the bait. But...
There is a price.
†James 1:15b GW
When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
We have the freedom of kicks but not freedom from kick-backs.
Re-prioritize (change focus).
†James 1:17 NLT
Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.
†Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
If you're in the car and in a bad mood, don't listen to the Blues station. Turn on a contemporary Christian or Gospel station!
Get power to live.
†James 1:18 NCV
God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.
†1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
But remember that temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Be born again!
Salem's answers to taming temptation.
Small groups. (Being accountable.)
Bible reading plan. (Learning and growing and understanding.) |
August 17, 2007 at 12:25am August 17, 2007 at 12:25am
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This continues our pastor's series from James.
Faith Works (Part 3)
Winning at Life's Mind-Games
"We make our decisions and then our decisions make us." - Frank Forham
AGGRAVATION: Waivering indecision.
†James 1:8 NIV
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Levels of instability.
Emotional instability.
"The most miserablel person in the world is the person who is habitually indecisive." William James
Some people use more energy deciding than doing.
Relational instability.
Spiritual instability.
†James 1:7 GW
A person who has doubts shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Spiritual instability blocks our prayers and our blessings.
We need to be believers 24/7, not Christians on Sunday and AWOL on Monday.
ANSWER: Wisdom of God.
†James 1:5-6 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
The world is not about wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge.
Steps to the answer:
See the need.
†Proverbs 11:2 NIV
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Seek the wisdom.
†Proverbs 2:6 NCV
Only the Lord gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding.
Secure your faith.
†Hebrews 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Doubt is there every day. We have to ask for wisdom every day - BELIEVING.
ASSURANCE: Willingness of God.
Wisdom is in the Word.
†Psalms 119:105 NIV
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Having a light on your path means you won't stub your toes.
It's my choice.
Free will is both a blessing and a curse. If God doesn't answer and you say, "I knew He wouldn't", well DUH. You have to believe.
Focus on Him not on the circumstances.
God gives continually, generously an cheerfully. There is grace for all of our mistakes.
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