tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30196204863295174052024-03-13T09:25:47.209-04:00Everyday PlacesOne woman's journey to find God in everyday, ordinary life...Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-33274471241973360272015-04-05T18:11:00.002-04:002015-04-05T18:11:15.409-04:00H O P E = Hold On... Pain Ends.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lately, I've been standing in the gap in prayer for some friends' <b>marriages</b>. Satan seems to be doing a lot of work lately attacking people that I care about, and all I can do is watch <i>(and pray),</i> and offer support<i> (and pray),</i> and cry <i>(and pray), </i>and, to be honest, there's been a lot of cursing <i>(but more praying).</i> In searching for some words of wisdom, I once again found myself at the Momastery website. I LOVE this article from Glennon Doyle Melton: <a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2015/04/03/easter-story/"><b>http://momastery.com/blog/2015/04/03/easter-story/</b></a> .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So if your marriage is under attack... or even if not, I strongly encourage you to <b><a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2015/04/03/easter-story/">GO. NOW. </a></b> to read her Easter story. Be sure you read the Post-Script... and even the comments... Satan has been busy, <b>but God <i>always</i> wins</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Easter blessings to you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">♥ Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-61711351824875445372014-08-13T11:58:00.000-04:002014-08-14T07:21:08.887-04:00Be Brave... Live.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I used to roll my eyes at people who cried when a random celebrity died. I just didn't understand how there could be such despair over a stranger. But, like pretty much <i>everything </i>I've ever scoffed at, karma <i>always </i>comes back to bite me in the butt... because the news of Robin William's death hit me hard Monday. And I confess, I cried... not only for the death of a comical genius, but for the loneliness and despair this man must have felt at the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Depression is ugly, people. </b> <b>Depression lies. </b> Like the snake in the garden of Eden, Depression twists and turns it way into your mind, and your heart, and your gut; it whispers small lies at first... building and building until the only "voice" you hear is the demanding, punishing voice that is Depression. I have danced with Depression a few times in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The first was after Kid 1 was born. </b> It had already been established that I had OCD. I am not the compulsive hand-washer or cleaner<i> (sorry, Hubby!),</i> I am the "lock-checker." At my worst, I spent 20+ minutes just trying to exit my house. <i>Testing exterior doors... holding the shaft of the curling iron in my hand to make sure it was cool and off... squeezing the plug of the iron and curling iron into my hand to make imprints so I'd remember that I'd unplugged them... laying my hand on each stove burner to make sure it was cool.</i> Yeah... I did all of that! :( Once I started medication (zoloft), the panicked voice in my head convincing me that I would single-handedly burn my house down with a careless light left on was muted somewhat, I could finally concentrate on the "sane" thoughts that had become buried in the cacophony of lies. I found my "normal" again. For me, medicine helps me sort through truths and lies. "Mind over matter" wasn't enough for me, I needed professional, medical help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stopped taking Zoloft when we decided to get pregnant. Then I decided to try breast-feeding after Kid 1 was born. That meant a total of about <i><b>a year without meds</b></i>... and postpartum depression slithered through that open door inside my mind. I remember looking at my baby and realizing just how <i>fragile </i>he was. <i>Everything </i>he required depended on me! The doubts got so strong that I started being afraid to walk past the top of the stairs with him. I had visions of tossing him down the stairs, even. I'd hold him close on the trek from our room to his room and hug the back wall - staring straight ahead to his door, walking swiftly (but not TOO quickly or I might trip!). I didn't want to be responsible for breaking or hurting or killing him. I reminds me now of a conversation that <i>Twilight's</i> Edward had with Bella:</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s just that you are so soft, so fragile. I have to mind my actions every moment that we’re together so that I don’t hurt you. I could kill you quite easily, Bella, simply by accident.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't tell anyone my feelings - the Lies twisted and told me that "<i>they'd" take my child away... that I was a rotten mother... that I was crazy.</i>" When breast-feeding turned out to be a complete disaster<i> (Thank you, God!)</i>, I returned to my prescription. The Lies were muted; common sense could reign again.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second time, the medicine <i>caused </i>the lies...</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Packaging on anti-depressants tell you that if you develop suicidal tendencies, to CALL YOUR DOCTOR right away. A few years later... this weary stay-home mom with a toddler and a new baby was exhausted. Overweight... with high blood pressure... pulled in so many different directions... I remember thinking that <i>"If everyone keeps taking a piece of me... soon I'll be left with nothing but pieces..." </i> And, I remember thinking that perhaps it would be SO much <i><u>quieter</u> </i>if I were dead. Fortunately, I <i>also </i>remembered the warnings on the medicine package. I called my doctor, switched my medicine, and the lies of Depression were stifled once again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share my story in a effort to show that if you are suffering from depression, or anxiety, or OCD, or crazy thoughts, <b>YOU ARE NOT ALONE</b>. There was a funny quote kicking around that said:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 in 4 people are crazy.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Look at your 3 best friends.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>If they seem normal, it's you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes, I think that's a bit backwards... because the amount of people I've run into who have had issues with depression, anxiety, etc. seem a lot higher than 1 in 4! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But Depression is a powerful, powerful snake. It crawls in and tramples all over the "sane" thoughts until all you hear are the lies. My friend, Phil, posted this Bible verse recently:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:10-11 ESV)</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Depression IS a thief.</b> It steals your joy, your sanity, your life. And there isn't a quick fix. There are only tools that you can try <i>(and mix & match!) </i>to get control over it. First, is God... and then all of the people, programs, medication, and/or therapy that God has put in place around you. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God tells us in Isaiah 40:31-</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And in Psalm 46:1 - </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present <span style="font-size: large;">help </span>in trouble.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">God </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">is there for you to turn towards. <b> And He has placed key people on this earth to help you as well. </b>Friends, Family, Doctors, Therapists, Medicine, Meditation, Blogging, ... <i>who and whatever!</i> Reach out. Talk to someone. </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You are not alone. </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Please</i>, use the tools around you to thwart the Lies. <b>Because there IS joy ahead for you. There IS faith. There IS life.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone who's ever met me knows that my all-time favorite show is <b><i>Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.</i></b> Best show ever - <i>seriously</i>. And at the end of Season 5, Buffy must sacrifice herself to save the entire world by jumping through a portal keep all hell (literally) from closing in. She gives these final words to her sister, Dawn:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">"Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will </span><u style="color: #666666;">always </u><span style="color: #666666;">love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles... tell Giles, I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. </span><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">You have to be strong</span><span style="color: #666666;">, </span></b><span style="color: #666666;">Dawn, </span><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live.</span></b><b style="color: #666666;"> </b><span style="color: #666666;"> For me."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hardest thing in this world... <b>is to LIVE in it.</b> All of you who struggle, I encourage you to be brave. <b> LIVE.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">♥Mags</span></div>
Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-91180436100208028892013-10-11T10:30:00.000-04:002013-10-11T10:30:07.672-04:00I'd Like To Be As Good A Friend As My Dog...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I type this, my sweet dog, Ranger is laying on my feet on the sofa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He has already followed me around the house, walked with me to the bus stop, patrolled our backyard against strangers<i> (or strange birds... or just regular birds),</i> dissected his Kong of treats, and wandered around the house glancing out the windows in search of the evil chipmunks who taunt him through the glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God really knew what He was doing when he made "Man's Best Friend" - I think this chapter missed it's spot in Genesis:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have a furry companion, you are blessed. They may have their infuriating moments, but dogs show this amazing loyalty and friendship to their people. I was thinking this morning, that<b> I hope I'm as good of a friend to others as my dog is to me.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I'd like to think</i> that I'm ready to play or hang out at any moment... that I'm quick to forgive and forget... that I'm loyal, and a good listener, and happy, and outgoing, and adaptable. I'm sure I fail all the time, but hopefully I succeed more than not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Bible has some great verses on friendship... One of my favorites is when Jesus is speaking:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">John 15:12-15 </strong><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. <b>Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.</b> You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but <b>I have called you friends</b>, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.</em><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br />How amazing is it that Jesus wants to call me, you, all of us, his <i>friend?!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And if my dog can get it right, can't we all?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Your friend,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mags</span></span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-62771010530247002302013-10-08T05:00:00.000-04:002013-10-08T05:00:01.065-04:00For My Husband... And My Sons... And ALL the Men in My World...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday was for my girls - today is for you, <b>Dudes</b>. Because the guys in my life are special, and unique, and AWESOME as well... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God created you for an amazing purpose... have you found it yet? Are you living up to the <b><span style="font-size: large;">MASTERPIECE </span></b>that you are?</span><br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you formed me in my mother's womb. </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Body and soul, I am marvelously made! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I worship in adoration—what a creation! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know me inside and out, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you know every bone in my body; </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> how I was sculpted from nothing into something. </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> all the stages of my life were spread out before you, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The days of my life all prepared </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> before I'd even lived one day.</span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Psalm 139:13-16, The Msg</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for being you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">♥ Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-39042586044814614872013-10-07T08:53:00.002-04:002013-10-07T08:53:24.483-04:00Attention Women! This Is For YOU!!!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-see-you.html">I've mentioned before</a>, that when I meet a new kid - especially one of my kids' friends, I usually introduce myself as <b>Maggie-is-Awesome.</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I tell them that I will answer to "Mrs. Buckley," but that I honestly prefer either<i><b> "Maggie-Is-Awesome," "Darth Magius,"</b></i> or <b><i>"Magius Malfoy" </i></b></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(if you don't get the last two references, you need to stop reading this, and go out an BUY and WATCH "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" ..... like, NOW). </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The need to continually remind others that I'm not a dork<i> (which in turn probably gives just opposite message)</i> likely stems from my elementary school years as being... well... a dork. <i>(Who needs psychotherapy? See how easy that was to figure out?!) </i> But I've got a message for all my gals today... just </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in case you aren't feeling it, YOU are AWESOME. But don't just take MY word for it...</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span class="text Ps-139-14" id="en-NIV-16254" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">I praise you<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16254A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">your works are wonderful,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16254B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;">I know that full well.</span></span></b></span></i></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-139-14" style="position: relative;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Psalm 139:14 NIV</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Embrace it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">♥ Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-78853559674297764322013-09-19T11:06:00.000-04:002013-09-19T11:06:10.242-04:00Friendship in UNusual places<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love finding God in unusual places... how about a BEER commercial?!! If you want to see a true definition of <b>friendship</b>, take a look at this commercial. Be sure you watch it all the way through (or it won't make sense!): </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"And as you wish that others would do to you,</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>do so unto them."</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Luke 6:31</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What have you done for a friend lately? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, I am thankful for my friends - who make me laugh... who offer support, guidance, fashion advice (*wink*), and more.... who love my kids... who love my quirks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you, my friends.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">♥</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div>
Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-45748920365584291582013-08-27T09:39:00.001-04:002013-08-27T09:39:32.257-04:00There's A New Dog In Town...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been quite remiss in my blogging! Summer hit, and I was knee-deep in baseball tournaments, games, and practices... then vacation... then back-to-school meetings, shopping, and routines. I hope you all have had a wonderful summer - and have had a chance to glimpse God in one of your everyday places. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also want to show off our new (ish) dog. I confess, I did NOT wait 4 months to get a new furry friend... I was on Petfinder within 24 hours of losing Mick. I started with our the closest, <a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/"><b>Columbus Cocker Rescue</b></a>, but at the time, all of the dogs they had were older (we were hoping for a 1-2 year old dog so he still had some "life" in him to play). So we widened our search... and widened it some more... and then found the perfect pooch... in Texas. Yeah... Texas... Have I mentioned that I live in Ohio?! But it's interesting how God eases the way for some things. The adoption fee was lower than other local rescues, the airfare was low - and together, the total cost was just about a $100 more than adopting locally. The wonderful people at<b> <a href="http://houstoncockerspanielrescue.com/">Houston Cocker Spaniel Rescue</a> </b>worked with us and <b>Columbus Cocker Rescue</b><i> (who graciously provided references since they had done such extensive screening already),</i> and THIS little guy was on a plane headed our way. Meet <b>Ranger</b>!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC2jKIshPUo/Uhyj6Of1jBI/AAAAAAAADTg/on7QBVraqtc/s1600/BoscoTX2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC2jKIshPUo/Uhyj6Of1jBI/AAAAAAAADTg/on7QBVraqtc/s320/BoscoTX2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This little guy is hilarious - We think he's part <b>cat </b>the way he hops up on the edges of furniture and perches there. As I type, he is dozing right next to me. He's definitely a bird-dog. Did you see Doug in the movie, "Up?" Well, instead of "SQUIRREL!," imagine our dog doing the same thing at "BIRD!!!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This blog post isn't one of my "deeper ones." <b>Just the simple idea that even when you have crummy things happen to you, better days are always ahead. </b> And you have to be willing to think outside the box. At first, adopting a dog nearly 900 miles away seemed like crazy talk. But with persistence, and commitment, and God easing the way, we have our new dog. And it was worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GayYfpQ3tj4/UhymaDn09nI/AAAAAAAADTs/B-RIh5kIHKU/s1600/RangersFamily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GayYfpQ3tj4/UhymaDn09nI/AAAAAAAADTs/B-RIh5kIHKU/s400/RangersFamily.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Luke 11:9-10 ESV</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>:) Mags</b></i></span></div>
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Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-52544288116886986562013-04-17T10:33:00.000-04:002013-10-11T09:14:34.364-04:00All Dogs Go To Heaven :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Our 5-year old, sweet Cocker Spaniel named Mick died yesterday. </b> It was completely unexpected. He started having seizures on Sunday and got progressively worse. We saw two different vets - but blood work was clear, he hadn't been injured, he hadn't eaten anything weird - there was no outward cause. By Tuesday, we got to a Veterinarian Neurologist who suspected either (best case) epilepsy or (fixable) encephalitis or (worst case) a brain tumor. They admitted him for 24 hours to give him anti-convulsives and stabilize him. But within 5 hours of being admitted, he died.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To say we were shocked was an understatement. No one expects an otherwise healthy, 5-year old dog to suddenly expire. As we talked with the neurologist when we checked him in - we were looking at some tough decisions ahead. The only way to completely determine what was going on was a <i>$2200.00</i> canine MRI (that would actually be done at the downtown<i> Children's</i> Hospital - <i>how crazy is that?!</i>). This could show if it was a tumor, encephalitis, or nothing (leaving the last diagnosis as epilepsy). But the hospital only did these on Thursdays. There was also the enormous cost to consider. We had already spent nearly $1000 in just the last few days on tests and care for him - was an MRI the right choice? And if it was a tumor - what was our next plan? Brain surgery on a dog? <a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-found-god-in-hospital-shoes.html">I have first hand experience with this - I had a benign cystic glioma removed in 2002</a>. Recovering from brain surgery is <i>grueling</i>! Could we actually ask that of our sweet Mick just so WE could feel better and keep him around longer?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We left the pet hospital with our heads spinning - but were sure that in 24-hours, the doctors would be able to at least stabilize him so we could work on the next steps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was my prayer yesterday:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Dear God - </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Please take care of our sweet dog, Mick. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Ease his pain and show us a clear direction in which to take his care. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Amen.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>God tells us to be specific in our prayers. </b> He knows what we want, but He also wants us to ask:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; </span></em></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">knock, and it will be opened to you</em>. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Matthew 7:7</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.</b></em></span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Matthew 21:22 </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.</b></em></span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mark 11:24 </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it</b></em></span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John 14:13-14 </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Well... You can get much clearer than our answer. </b> God took Mick to heaven - to play with Clifton (our previous dog of 12 years), and Julia (our niece), and all of the other past pets and family. Either he knew that no amount of testing would fix Mick on earth... or decided that an MRI wasn't the best use of our fiscal gifts... or just really wanted to have our sweet dog hanging out with him in Heaven, God answered our prayer. <b> It might not be the answer I wanted, but <i>it's the answer I asked for,</i></b> and how can I argue with the answer that involves my beloved pet being healthy, whole, and happy running around in God's big playground?!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>On a side note...<i> Not sure if our pets go to Heaven? </i> </b><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2012/04/rick-warren-dogs-cats-heaven-jesus/1#.UW6rHbWG2So">Consider this response</a> by Christian author, Rick Warren:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>People miss Heaven because of their rebellion against God's offer of love, by rejecting Jesus. But dogs, which have no ability to sin nor moral conscious, do not have an ability to reject Jesus. It is the same principle as a baby, young child, or mentally challenged individual. The Bible calls then "safe," not "saved." In Proverbs, we read that "The Lord preserves the simple" which includes persons without the ability, capacity, or moral conscious to reject Jesus.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our dogs (and cats, pigs, ferrets, bunnies, whatever) are <b>totally </b>going to Heaven. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mick was a rescue dog.</b> We got him through a wonderful organization called <a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/"><b>Columbus Cocker Rescue</b></a>. At first I was beating myself up over the fact that WE were supposed to be his rescue - yet we only had him 3 years before he died. But this morning, I realized that<i> even the three short years of rescue were important.</i> God calls us to be His hands and feet to all his creations by reaching out in prayer, help, comfort, service, or with our financial gifts. <b>While God is the ULTIMATE Rescuer, He EXPECTS us to do some earthly rescuing too!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Psalm 82:3-4</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we first got Mick at age 2, he had terrible ear infections. The previous owners had not taken care of his ears at all-- to the extent that vets were talking full ear ablations. And ablation is a grisly ear surgery where all of the inner and middle ear is removed and outer ear flap is sewn shut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Obviously, all hearing is lost in the ablated ear; an ablation is saved as a <i>very last resort </i>for a chronically ear-infected pet. We were steadfast (especially my awesome husband!) in getting all of the medicines deep into Mick's ears to heal the infection-- for <i>over 6 months </i>we worked to avoid ablation - and had to regularly make sure we were keeping his ears clean. One thing the vet mentioned was that even through had significant damage deep in his ears from the older infections, the canal (that we could reach and clean) looked good. So I'm feeling more confident this morning that we did our part with Mick.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My friend, Amy, told me that<i> "If God knew Mick wouldn't have a long life, sending Mick to the House of Buckley was a pretty good deal, I think!" </i> David has often said that </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">if he could be reincarnated, he's only want to come back as a dog </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in our house</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> - because those dogs have one sweet life! I have to remind David that HE is part of the "good life" that dogs in our house receive... </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ahhhh...details.</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just because yesterday was completely craptastic, and my eyes are puffy today from all the tears, I am solid in the knowledge that one sad day is <b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: xx-small;">small</span> </b>in comparison to the love, and joy, and companionship Mick gave to us. And since I know God isn't finished with US yet, I am resolute that God expects us to continue to do our part in helping others - whether that be people or pets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are looking to adopt a furry friend and changing a life, consider taking a look at <b><a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/">CCR's list of dogs looking for a home</a></b>. Just look at some of these faces - and these are just a handful of the dogs wishing for a forever home! <i>(Images are linked to dog's description.)</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blizzard</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/InfoDetail.asp?ID=1261"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/petimages/feb2013_028.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/InfoDetail.asp?ID=689"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/petimages/Caruso005_crop.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/InfoDetail.asp?ID=1410"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.columbuscockerrescue.org/petimages/Dasher-LibertyTwpPark.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Kadence</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Dorito</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Thumper</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not local to SW Ohio? Use <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/"><b>Petfinder</b></a> to locate a pet-in-need in your area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>And, give your pet a hug from me today. I miss mine.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">♥Mags</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>When God had made the earth and sky, the flowers and the trees.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>He then made all the animals, the fish, the birds, and bees.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>And when at last He'd finished, not one was quite the same.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>God said, "I'll walk this earth of mine, and give each one a name."</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>And so He traveled far and wide. And everywhere He went,</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>A little creature followed Him, until it's strength was spent.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>When all were named upon the earth, and in the sky, and sea,</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>The little creature said, "Dear Lord! There's not one left for me!"</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>Kindly the Father said to him, "I've left you to the end.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>I've turned my own name back to front, and call you DOG, my friend."</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><i><b>-Author Unknown</b></i></span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /></b>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-83394541723730267642013-04-16T17:55:00.000-04:002013-10-07T08:54:15.333-04:00I See You<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can find little life lessons <i>everywhere</i>... this one is brought to you by Dove, :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XpaOjMXyJGk" width="560"></iframe><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What a difference between how each lady viewed herself... vs. how each were viewed by complete strangers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We spend so much time <i>worrying over </i>and <i>obsessing about </i>and <i>looking at </i>and <i>dissecting </i>the things we find NOT QUITE right about ourselves, when in actually, we should be reveling in the <b><span style="font-size: large;">awesomeness </span></b>that is each of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In fact, I think we each need to find ourselves a <b><span style="font-size: large;">THEME SONG</span></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in the 1990's I loved the TV show, <b><i>Ally McBeal</i></b>, and one of the episodes, called "Theme of Life," involved Ally coming up with a theme song to make her feel empowered (she chose "Tell Him" which was covered by Vonda Shepard on the show). I like that idea of having your own theme song - or a bunch of them!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a running joke among my kids' friends <i>(and my friends),</i> that when I introduce myself, I tell them my name is "<b>Maggie Is Awesome</b>," "<b>Darth Magius</b>," or "<b>Magius Malfoy</b>." The Star Wars and Harry Potter junkies crack up - and the littler kids just sit there pondering if <i>"Is Awesome" </i>is my true last name. But it <u>is</u> pretty darn awesome when I show up to volunteer in my sons' classrooms, and a bunch of kids wave and say "HI, MAGGIE-IS-AWESOME!!" What a feeling!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a playlist on iTunes called "AWESOME, I AM" (not specifically Yoda-speak, but I wanted it to be at the top of the list so I needed something that started with "A."). These are the songs on the list:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Titanium </i>- David Guetta</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Just The Way You Are</i> - Bruno Mars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I'm Too Sexy</i> - Right Said Fred</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>SexyBack</i> - Justin Timberlake</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sexy And I Know It</i> - LMFAO</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I Know You Want Me</i> - Calle Ocho</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Fighter</i> - feat Ryan Tedder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Survivor/I Will Survive</i> - Glee Cast</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Because I'm Awesome</i> - The Dollyrots (yes, that's an actual song!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>This Is Your Life</i> - Switchfoot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>U Can't Touch This</i> - MC Hammer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Good Life</i> - OneRepublic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Champ</i> - Nelly</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My sixth grader would also tell me that no "Awesome Rock" mix would be complete without "<i>Remember The Name</i>" by The Rising Tied. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some songs are silly - some are serious - but all of them give me a little lift in my step and remind me that I AM awesome... just like you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if that doesn't help boost your self-esteem, consider that GOD looks at you and sees not your flaws, but an amazing masterpiece that He created:</span></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you formed me in my mother's womb. </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Body and soul, I am marvelously made! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I worship in adoration—what a creation! </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know me inside and out, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you know every bone in my body; </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> how I was sculpted from nothing into something. </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> all the stages of my life were spread out before you, </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The days of my life all prepared </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> before I'd even lived one day.</span></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Psalm 139:13-16, The Msg</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like the video states at the end: <b><i>you are more beautiful than you think.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, as <b>GOD </b>reminds us through His Word: <b><i>You </i></b><b><i>are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made.</i></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Own it.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></b>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-73307509397935015122013-03-22T09:57:00.000-04:002013-03-22T09:57:55.854-04:00Nice To Meet You... Oh... We've Met Before?<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Between our two sons, we've seen a LOT of sports and teams. We started with Tumblebees (toddler tumbling), to T-ball, then baseball, followed by basketball, flag football, tackle football, karate, and tennis lessons. I'm probably missing something too! And that means we meet a LOT of kids and a LOT of parents that go with them. And, that doesn't even count all of the different classes and teams of classes we've had so far. It's too hard to keep everybody straight!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I had to create a policy when it comes to learning everyone's names. It may not be the best policy, but it was to preserve my own sanity. Don't judge... but here it is:</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until we have TWO points of connection, I don't have to learn your name.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our kids do not have to play. You do not have to invite us to your kids' birthday parties; we won't be inviting you to ours. Until we have two points of connection, I'm going to assume that quite possibly, after this sports season, we may never cross paths again. And to learn everyone's name, kids & parents, across all of these sports and classrooms and teams is just more than my brain can handle.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It sounds harsh, I know. But it works for me... <i>most of the time, anyway. </i>There was the football season... where I was <u>sure </u>that Jack would only play one year. I mean we lost EVERY game... by <i>a lot. </i> There were practices 5 days a week for leading up to a two-hour game in the rain, cold, and sleet where we would lose... <i>every time.</i> Surely Jack would realize that this was an awful lot of work for very little payout? So I didn't learn any parents' names. I knew a few before football - so I had people to sit with. I laughed and talked and joked with everyone, I just address anyone by name.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And Jack decided to play the next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">D'OH! Second season rolls around and I have to pretend I know everyone while secretly learning all the names I didn't learn the year before! Oops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But overall, this has been a good policy. When my kids want to have a birthday party, they must adhere by the 2 POINTS Rule. The kid they want to invite must have two connections: school & church, school & sports, sports & another sport/season, church & neighbor... Two of anything will work. And if they want to a kid's party, we need to have two points of connection with them. We've had very few exceptions, and this had made our life much easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>But while this works for my social life and that of my kids, imagine how sad if it would be if God adhered to this policy? </b> What if God said, <i>"Until you find two points of connection with Me, I don't have to learn your name... or help you... or know you?"</i> How lonely and frustrating that would be! Fortunately God knew us before we were even born:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span class="text Jer-1-5" id="en-MSG-8048" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">“Before I shaped you in the womb,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Jer-1-5" style="position: relative;">I knew all about you.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Jer-1-5" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Before you saw the light of day,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Jer-1-5" style="position: relative;">I had holy plans for you:</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Jer-1-5" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">A prophet to the nations—</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Jer-1-5" style="position: relative;">that’s what I had in mind for you.”</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jeremiah 1:5 (Msg)</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God knitted us stitch by stitch, cell by cell, molecule by molecule before we even saw our first day of light. He doesn't wait until we find Him (twice!); He has met us and loves us - despite all of our flaws, shortcomings, and sin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>I'm thankful that my God is bigger than anything I can imagine.</b> And thankful that with Him, I don't have to pretend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As for you, obscure parent I've seen before, somewhere... have we met? My name is Maggie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div>
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Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-87776415127363605162013-02-26T19:54:00.000-05:002013-02-26T19:54:02.405-05:00Meeting God... A Story.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;">Stumbled upon this story on Facebook - thought it was too good not to share...!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">A little boy wanted to meet God.</span><br style="line-height: 14px;" /><br style="line-height: 14px;" /><span style="line-height: 14px;">He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cookies and six cans of lemonade and he started </span></i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 14px;"><i style="background-color: white;">his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman.<br /><br />She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his lemonade when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a cookie.<br /><br />She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a lemonade. Again, she smiled at him.<br /><br />The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug.<br /><br />She gave him her biggest smile ever.<br /><br />When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him “What did you do today that made you so happy?”<br /><br />He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”<br /><br />Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.<br /><br />Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate cookies in the park with God.”<br /><br />However, before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”<br /><br />Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.</i><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">One of my favorite songs is <i>Give Me Your Eyes</i> by Brandon Heath:</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Give me your eyes for just one second</span></i></div>
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Give me your eyes so I can see</div>
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Everything that I keep missing</div>
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Give me your love for humanity</div>
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Give me your arms for the broken hearted</div>
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Ones that are far beyond my reach.</div>
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Give me your heart for the ones forgotten</div>
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Give me your eyes so I can see</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Each of us has the potential to BE an agent of God in our everyday, ordinary life. </b>We can allow God to work through our hands, our hearts, and our minds, BUT that means <i>pushing aside our own wants</i> for the needs of others. When was the last time you allowed God to work through you? And what can you do <i>tomorrow </i>to reach out to another? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:) Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-58242573559203667502012-10-05T08:17:00.000-04:002013-10-07T08:53:50.491-04:00See Me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Please forgive any incoherent thoughts today. I finally went to sleep after 11PM last night only to wake up at 2AM... and never returned to sleep! When your mind is full, sometimes sleep is elusive. But everyone once in a while, I feel a strong calling to write something very specific on this blog, and today, I have a message to share.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know this will come as a surprise to those of you who know me in person, but as a child, I was a "<b>Kick-Me-Kid.</b>" You know the one: I was last-picked at gym-- <i>likely because I was terrible at any sport involving a ball... or climbing... or running... or sweat.</i> I had a hard time making friends-- <i>because I was,</i> (pick one)-- <i>needy, bossy, afraid of confrontation, teacher's pet, attention-hogging, who knows. </i>I was a teacher's kid-- as in my Mom was THE English teacher for our school-- and nothing says "popular" like the straight-A kid of the English teacher. (note: sarcasm) Add to this that my school <i>only had 15 kids in my GRADE</i>, and you've got one nice recipe for</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fortunately, things changed for me when I went to high school for several reasons. First, there was a HUGE ocean of students in which I could hide OR thrive: 440 kids in my grade alone... and all kinds of kids! Tall kids, short kids, smart kids, arty kids, techy kids, bandos, hoods, goths, singers, student-counsel-power-people, homecoming queens and kings. The sea of students was huge and wide and diverse... <b><i>and heavenly.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because there, I finally found people who "got" me-- People who didn't see a "kick me" sign on my back, but saw the "<b>SEE ME!</b>" sign up front. People who ignored the "needy" and saw "funny" ... "clever" ... "hilarious," even. People who (grudgingly?) accepted the "bossy" (the trait that would later make me a <i>really </i>good first grade teacher), but also saw the creative writer, the dancer, the musician <i>(mostly heart vs. talent, but a musician nonetheless!),</i> the thinker, and the loyal friend. And now I'm blessed - because I have found good, solid, <i>help-you-bury-the-body-in-the-backyard-</i>friends who accept me in all my quirky, funny, awesome glory. <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>And to be honest, I don't have to be friends with people who don't! </b> </span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">What a freeing concept! </span> </b>I can be polite and friendly, but I don't have to open myself up to people who don't get it. And that is... <i>well</i>... awesome. :) <b>Because God made ME awesome - just like he did with you:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For we are God’s handiwork,</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29240A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> created</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29240B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> in Christ Jesus to do good works,</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29240C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span></i></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> which God prepared in advance for us to do. </span></i></b><i>-Ephesians 2:10 NIV</i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="text Deut-32-4" id="en-NIV-5763" style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-auto;">He is the Rock,<span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5763J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup></span><u> his works are perfect</u>,<span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5763K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 0.42em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Deut-32-4" style="position: relative;"><b style="color: #0b5394;">and all his ways are just. </b>-Deuteronomy 2:4 pt 1 NIV</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wish my "kid"-self could have known such great things lay ahead! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another child I know is dealing with a version of the same issue right now. This child is quirky, goofy, creative, hilarious, witty, sarcastic, and more. And for the most part, he has "<i>never met a stranger.</i>" But he and another kid he'd <i>really </i>like to be friends with just. don't. get. each. other. They don't speak the same language, and I'm not talking about English! I'm talking <i>sarcasm vs. literal</i>, <i>goofy vs. serious</i>, <i>free-thinking-vs-straight-arrow</i>. It's frustrating them and for both families because they bring out the worst in each other. However, I was reminded last night <i>(or possibly early this morning, remember I've had just 3 hours of sleep),</i> that <b>God made all sorts of masterpieces: </b> the silly ones, the serious ones, the creative ones, the mechanical ones, the bossy ones, the quiet ones. ALL of these children are important in their own way - and they have all been bestowed with amazing gifts that will serve them well later in life (EVEN IF those same gifts are hard to handle now). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These two kids might have to settle with "friendly" vs. "friends." -- <i>Which is such a hard lesson to learn!</i> Because it is NOT okay for either kid to be in a situation where EACH one makes the other one feel badly. But for both of them, it is important to remember that their respective quirks and gifts have meaning and significance;<i> they just might not know yet what for.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—<u>absolutely </u></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><u>nothing</u></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u> can get between us and God’s love</u> because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.</span></b> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">-Romans 8:39</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>God has GREAT plans for you, Kid. Embrace them, because</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>AWESOME.</b></span></div>
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Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-8296110997310023382012-07-29T08:56:00.001-04:002012-07-29T08:56:03.137-04:00"Be More Christian"<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every once in a while, I read an article and am amazed how the author MUST have been walking around in my brain. With the recent <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/266281243473841/">controversy </a>surrounding Chik-Fil-A, I've had lots of opinions, but just haven't been able to get it organized right. Fortunately, I don't have to - because <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/07/27/in-the-basement">THIS article</a> by Jen Hatmaker says it all:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/07/27/in-the-basement">OPEN ARTICLE IN A NEW TAB</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>(then come back here!)</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This whole issue has made me realize that I have a <i>very </i>diverse group of friends - because across my Facebook wall, there are dueling posts arguing very different opinions. Personally, I believe that a business owner, like everyone else in the USA, enjoys the same freedom of speech as any other citizen. Likewise, any citizen who disagrees or find offense has the same right to show their displeasure in discourse or by spending their money elsewhere. That's the way America works. <b>And those freedoms of speech and religion are two of the critical freedoms that our founding fathers worked for and our brave soldiers <i>continue </i>to fight for. </b> So I'm not anxious to give them up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What bothers me the most, is how some of my fellow <b>Christians </b>behave when they try to convince people that it's "the Bible-way" or the "Hell-way." <i><b>This is not helpful! </b></i> There is a difference between a "<b>salvation issue</b>" and a "<b>sin issue</b>." In one respect, salvation is easy: <b>Believe with your heart, mind, and soul that Jesus is THE Christ, the Son of the Living God.</b> That's it-- Ticket to Heaven in hand. Unfortunately, some believers take that "ticket" and use it as a free pass to bully others for their alternate or conflicting beliefs. Add to that the part where EVERYBODY (regardless of their belief in Jesus) sins almost daily in some manner or another, and we've got a problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I really like this paragraph from Jen's blog:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">When we resort to the same tactics being leveled at Truett Cathy, we sink to the least common denominator and – this is important – </span><b style="line-height: 18px;">we make everything worse</b><span style="line-height: 18px;">. How are these culture wars working out for us? Well, the church is losing around 50K folks a week, and the next generation downright refuses to come. The gay community is ostracized entirely (oh, they’ve gotten the message alright), and Christianity has turned into white noise.</span><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><br style="line-height: 18px;" /><b style="line-height: 18px;">Digging our heels in even harder is the problem, not the answer. </b></span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Love is, if you believe anything Jesus ever said or did.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I get it - it's hard to walk the line of living a Christian life, surrounding yourself with Christian friends-yet-still reaching out to others to lead them to Christ. <b>Believe me, I have my own opinions</b> about religion, politics, Republicans-vs.-Democrats, gay rights, the death penalty, abortion, immigration, Harry Potter, the devil, Creation-vs.Evolution, and more. On some issues, I'll eagerly leap upon the soap box and declare my hand<i> (I have my train ticket to Hogwarts, thank-you-very-much!).</i> With other issues, I'm still working it out - trying to follow what I believe the Bible is saying about both a sin AND how Jesus behaved toward sinners. <i>"Hating the sin but still loving the sinner"</i> is sometimes not exactly as easy or simple as it should be! And while I may have a lot of <i>opinions</i>, I don't have all the <b>answers</b>. So I'm adopting this policy (as much as I can):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(Yes, I made this myself.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I keep thinking of the Chik-Fil-A slogan of "<b><i>EAT MORE CHICKEN</i></b>," and what I really want to encourage my friends is to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>BE MORE CHRISTIAN</i></span></b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>As in "BE MORE CHRISTLIKE!" </b> Be patient. Lead by example... Be honest... Be authentic... Be truthful, but have self-control... Be generous... Be real. You may have a ticket to Heaven, but God is charging you NOT to come along solo. God wants ALL of his children in Heaven, and you won't change any minds by acting like a religious lunatic on Facebook or Twitter.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-ESV-29221" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>through faith. And this is <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>not your own doing; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>it is the gift of God,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-ESV-29222" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">not a result of works, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup>so that no one may boast.</span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>-Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)</i></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Huh... looks like I found my own little soapbox after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take care of each other,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">♥Mags</span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-34185689353464983332012-05-09T08:19:00.001-04:002012-05-09T08:21:14.207-04:00Get Over Yourself...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Feeling sorry for yourself this morning? Think you've got problems... annoyances.... nuisances to deal with...?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://youtu.be/ihGCj5mfCk8">Watch this video</a>. Re-evaluate your "problems." Get over it - because some people are dealing with a LOT more. And God can conquer ALL of the problems...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>(You should probably turn off the music for this blog. Scroll down to the very bottom of the blog to the Music Player, and press "Pause." THEN watch the video!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Colossians 1:11-12 (NIV)</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="text Col-1-11" id="en-NIV-29477"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>being strengthened with all power <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29477A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29477B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span><span class="text Col-1-12" id="en-NIV-29478"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>and giving joyful thanks to the Father, <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29478C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>who has qualified you to share in the inheritance <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29478D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>of his holy people in the kingdom of light.</span></i></span></h3>
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<strong style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Romans 8:37-39</strong><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(NIV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Rom-8-37" id="en-NIV-28154" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">37 </sup>No, in all these things we are more than conquerors <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28154CB" title="See cross-reference CB">CB</a>)"></sup>through him who loved us. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28154CC" title="See cross-reference CC">CC</a>)"></sup></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="text Rom-8-38" id="en-NIV-28155" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">38 </sup>For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28155CD" title="See cross-reference CD">CD</a>)"></sup>nor any powers, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28155CE" title="See cross-reference CE">CE</a>)"></sup></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="text Rom-8-39" id="en-NIV-28156" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">39 </sup>neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28156CF" title="See cross-reference CF">CF</a>)"></sup>that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></i>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Romans 12:9-12</strong> <span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Rom-12-9" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>Love must be sincere. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28255Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28255R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="text Rom-12-10" id="en-NIV-28256" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>Be devoted to one another in love. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28256S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>Honor one another above yourselves. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28256T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="text Rom-12-11" id="en-NIV-28257" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28257U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>serving the Lord.</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span class="text Rom-12-12" id="en-NIV-28258" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>Be joyful in hope, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28258V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>patient in affliction, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28258W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup>faithful in prayer.<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28258X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="text Rom-12-13" id="en-NIV-28259" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28259Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup>Practice hospitality.</span></i>
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<span class="text Col-1-12"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Be kind </b>to one another today; you never know what someone else is dealing with...</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Col-1-12"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></span></span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-27378526820465180562012-04-21T12:39:00.002-04:002012-04-21T12:40:39.763-04:00I Found God in Ingenuity...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is a great little story that's making the rounds on Facebook...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 30px;">The Tomato Garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig his tomato garden, but it was very hard work as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear Vincent,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I am feeling pretty badly because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Love, Dad</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few days later he received a letter from his son.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear Dad,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don’t dig up that garden!!! That’s where I buried the bodies.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Love, Vinnie</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear Dad,<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Love you, Vinnie</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love the creative thinking! The son, trapped within the confines of his cell, knew he, himself, could not help with the garden. But his letter, which he knew would be read by the authorities, ensured that his father's garden would get tilled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now I'm not advocating tricking the police... But I am encouraging you to tap into the creative side of your brain - because you have one! You are fearfully & wonderfully made...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; </span><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> your works are wonderful, </span><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I know that full well.</span></span></i></b>
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<span style="line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Psalm 139:14 (NIV)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So think outside the box once in a while!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-11552425107332428992012-04-17T14:18:00.001-04:002012-04-17T14:18:40.383-04:00Suck it, Satan! Part II<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Ever have one of those days where you realize Satan is up and running with his "A-GAME" while you are still crawling out of bed...?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm having that kind of day...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My son fumbled with this prescription allergy medicine - and the bottle slipped from his hands... spilling little pink pills on the kitchen floor. I was scurrying around trying to get them all before the dog ate one... while assuring my son that the 5-second rules doesn't apply for prescription meds...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, I had to go grocery shopping - which is like a scavenger hunt now because our local Kroger is re-vamping, re-modeling, and re-arranging the entire store - so it took me<i> at least </i>twice as long to find what I needed... and the cashier's computer jammed up... where the cashier oh-so-helpfully let me know that it was MY fault for having both paper coupons AND electronic coupons which gum up the machine....</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While I was excited to remember to pick up some pretty nail polish at the store<i> (it's spring... sandals-weather!), </i>there was apparently a <i>hole</i> in my grocery sack because it fell out and broke.... <i>on our kitchen floor... </i>spraying metallic-pink nail polish all over the WHITE kitchen tile and grout. So desperate was I to paint my toenails, that I scooped up the broken bottle and quickly opened the regular end, dipping the little brush into the spilled blobs of paint to paint my toes before it dried. THEN I cleaned it up and put away the groceries... ;)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the groceries were stored, I stopped down to visit a friend and her cute dog... who decided to pee on my jeans... the cute jeans I WAS going to wear to an event at our church tonight.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My friend was making these special cakes for the church event. One wouldn't hold together and effectively disintegrated while I was there... at least I got to eat the broken cake and it's yummy icing (score!), but she'll have to make a whole new cake.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>And it's only noon.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today is one of those days where Satan has planned ahead, gotten his act together, and is letting his little, irritating gremlins run free. Nothing big - no huge catastrophe - but a bunch of little things that have pushed me into a truly foul and funky mood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />But I remembered a post I did in December 2010 called "<a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2010/12/in-nutshell-suck-it-satan.html"><b>In a Nutshell... Suck it, Satan!</b></a>" and I decided to just shake off this bad mood, count the many blessings, be thankful for the days that aren't a mess, and tell Satan to go bother somebody else!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.</span></i></b></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 Peter 5:8 (Msg)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Suck it, Satan.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>God has my back.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And He is BIGGER than you.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-10943163703746683862012-04-15T07:30:00.000-04:002012-04-15T07:30:00.291-04:00God, Protect Me...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThouShaltLaughComedy">Thou Shalt Laugh Comedy</a> FB Page...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyone else cringe a little once you realize this is sometimes....... you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yeah, me too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.</span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Psalm 18:2</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> (NIV)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Thanks God, for all the unseen things you do to protect me - each and every day.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-Mags</span><br />
<br />Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-79930822204174024852012-04-13T07:01:00.000-04:002012-04-13T07:01:00.143-04:00Finding God in Adversity...<span style="background-color: white; color: grey; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As much as I would have loved to have come up with this myself, this post was copied from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cowboys-4-Christ/138210329577734">Cowboys-4-Christ Facebook page</a>. Please support them by "liking" their page. </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"> A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so har</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">d for her. She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up. She was tired of all the fighting and struggling. It seemed as though in solving one problem, two more would arise.<br /><br />Her father, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil.<br /><br />In one he placed <b>carrots</b>,<br />in the second he placed <b>eggs</b>,<br />and the last he placed ground <b>coffee beans</b>.<br /><br />He let them sit and boil without saying a word. The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners.<br /><br />He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.<br />He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl.<br />Then he ladled the coffee out and poured it in a cup.<br /><br />Turning to her he asked. "Darling, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.<br />She humbly asked. "What does it mean Father?"<br /><br /><b>He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.</b> The carrots went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, they softened and became weak.<br />The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, the insides became hardened.<br /><br /><b>However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. </b><br /><br />"Which are you," he asked his daughter.<br />"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?<br />Are you a carrot,<br />an egg,<br />or a coffee bean?</span>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the face of adversity, how do YOU respond?</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you become weak? Do you become strong?</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or do you do even more... and take that hardship, and turn it into something amazing.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Consider <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SurferBethanyHamilton">Bethany Hamilton</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NickVujicicFans">Nick Vujicic</a>, or this little boy:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Those people are testaments to doing MORE than surviving. Those people are like the "coffee" - they changed the atmosphere <i>and the people</i> around them - by sharing their stories <i>(both the good things AND the hard things),</i> and by going out and LIVING... out loud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, some scars people have are hidden... pushed deep down in a dark place so that they can manage each day without falling apart. To these people I give my prayers and encouragement that they find, at least ONE person, to whom they can unburden themselves. Because sometimes, all you need is to open the door a crack to start the healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A favorite show of mine is <i>Grey's Anatomy</i>. In one of the episodes, the Chief of Staff stops one of his interns from wallowing in her perceived failures with this <a href="http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/celebrate-them-the-scars-you-bear-are-the-signs-of-a-competitor/">quote</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Chin up. Put your shoulders back, walk proud, strut a little.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Don't lick your wounds; celebrate them.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>The scars you bear are the signs of a competitor.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>You're in a lion fight. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Just because you didn't win [that time] doesn't mean you don't know how to roar.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The scars you have, whether they be physical, mental, or emotional, do NOT have to define you. You are not broken. And sometimes... many times... <b>surviving = winning. </b>And you are never alone in your fight... <b>God is with you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps; text-align: -webkit-auto;">God</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">'s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> who regathers Israel's scattered exiles. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> He heals the heartbroken </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and bandages their wounds. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> He counts the stars </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and assigns each a name. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> we'll never comprehend what he knows and does. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant: small-caps; text-align: -webkit-auto;">God</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> puts the fallen on their feet again </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and pushes the wicked into the ditch.</span></span></b></span></i>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Psalm 147:3 (MSG)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So when you are faced with a hardship, a problem, or a catastrophe, at the very least, try to be the <b>egg </b>- get stronger with each hard moment. And eventually, you might find that you can become the <b>coffee bean</b>. Because you can affect others with your strength, endurance, and perseverance. <b> That's #WINNING. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-2023674968474562662012-04-09T18:30:00.000-04:002012-04-09T18:30:26.250-04:00A Squashed Sandwich... Part 2 of "A Fork In The Road"<span style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This post is a follow-up to "<a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2012/03/fork-in-road-object-lesson-on-purity.html"><i>The Fork In the Road</i></a>" Discussion. If you haven't read it yet, you should probably read that first. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was a girl in my 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes in elementary school who, every day at lunch, would reach over with her fist, hover over someone's sandwich or bag of chips, and then slam her fist down - crushing the food flat underneath. Since each grade level at my small school only had 15 kids in it - half of them girls, you pretty much HAD to sit with this bully<i> (let's call her "Hester*")</i> or face sitting alone in the cafeteria. At least, I was safe in the knowledge that Hester was an equal-opportunity squasher; by statistics alone, I had a 6-in-7 chance of keeping my sandwich intact. But at least one day every couple of weeks, I knew that I'd be eating squashed peanut butter & jelly - or have to forgo lunch altogether. :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was thinking about this as I talked to people about my last blog post on purity and forks. That post was largely concentrated on people who CHOOSE to have sex in high school (or younger - *<i>sigh</i>*), but I was reminded by more than one person, that there are too many girls (and boys, even) who have had sexual behaviors <b><i>forced </i></b>upon them without their consent. I remember hearing statistics in my junior high sex education class: that 1-in-4 girls would be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. (That was the mid-1980's). And I remember looking around at my classmates thinking, <i>"Surely that can't be right?</i> - <i>That would mean that, statistically, 2 of my female classmates could face that sometime!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The current statistics are even more sobering-- and have moved to 1-in-3 vs. 1-in-4. According to <a href="http://www.rainn.org/statistics">RAINN</a>, <i>44% of rape victims are under age 18. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. And there is an average of 207,753 victims of sexual assault each year, </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">aged 12 and older</i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Approximately 2/3 of all assaults are committed by someone <u>known</u> to the victim, and 38% of rapists are a "friend" or acquaintance.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That means YES - quite possibly, that girl you sit next to in chemistry class... might be dealing with a friend-of-the-family hurting her. The withdrawn girl on the bus... could be being molested by her uncle. That "promiscuous" girl that everybody "knows"... may just be acting out because she has been raped already - so she figures why bother "protecting her virtue." The goth girl who pushes everybody away... she is trying to be as "ugly" as possible so she won't be raped again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it's even quite possible that one of your <b>friends </b>- someone to whom you share your secrets <i>(the boy you are crushing on, the math test you failed, the normal everyday angst of high school)</i> has been stuffing down her own horrible secrets of abuse so that she can forget... just for a minute... and feel "normal" by listening to your "problems." It is quite possible that you'll <i>never </i>know what horrors your friend faces each evening when she gets home from school</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These kids-with-secrets didn't ASK to be raped... or assaulted... or abused. Like my lunchtime sandwich smashed by Hester's angry fist, they were attacked by ruthless bullies who get off on the "power" of hurting other people. And I imagine it would be easy for them to think that God does not care about them. Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq5NWgSa0iA">Jenny in <i>Forrest Gump</i> who prayed</a> "<i>Dear God... make me a bird... make me a bird so I can fly far, far away </i>(from her abusive father)," these kids might be wondering WHY God allows this pain and suffering to happen at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't want my next words to sound empty or condescending or out-of-touch, but<b> I truly believe that</b> while God may not have unleashed a bolt of lightening to smite your attacker, <b>He was with you </b>- each horrible minute - crying with you and helping you endure... and survive. While He will not stop a human, one of His children, from making a free-will choice, He is heartbroken when one of His children commits such an evil and horrible act upon another. At the same time, he feels every ounce of pain and suffering and shame you experience. God, as Jesus, felt pain, hopelessness, embarrassment, heartache, sickness, suffering, and more at the hand of Pontius Pilate and his angry mob. And every day, when people are cruel and inhumane to other people, I believe he feels <i>double </i>the pain - the pain of the victim <i>as well as</i> the pain and brokenness of the deranged or sick perpetrator of the attack(s).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While God won't interfere with anyone's free will, I believe, if you ask Him, he will gladly offer strength, healing, peace, and comfort - by placing other people in your life who will lift you up and support you as you deal with certain horrors and memories. You were NOT alone then... and you are NOT alone now. Surround yourself with kind and caring friends and family - you don't have to continue to stuff down these secrets... because the people who truly love you will support you and allow you to unburden your mind to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And while you may feel dirty or soiled like the Sharpie'd up forks <a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2012/03/fork-in-road-object-lesson-on-purity.html">from the last blog post</a>, I believe that when you give your life to Jesus, and when you give your burdens and your secrets over to God - not only does He clean your fork... <b>He gives you a whole new one.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To the people who read this who are holding horrors in their minds from their childhood or after, I pray that you will find strength and peace and healing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mags</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PS - April is Sexual Assault and Awareness Month. To find out how you can help, please <a href="http://www.rainn.org/what-can-you-do-april-2012">visit RAINN and read about 7 easy ways you can support Survivors of Abuse.</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>*Not her real name... exactly</i>.</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-55206452268592468652012-03-05T17:27:00.002-05:002012-03-05T17:28:03.261-05:00Fork In The Road... An Object Lesson on Purity<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The other morning, our 8-year old son, Luke, was eating small, dill pickles. As he chattered on about various topics, he eventually paused, held up his pickle, and asked me, <i>"Mom... do you know how I know THIS pickle... is mine....?"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I looked at him quizzically and asked,<i> "How?,"</i> <b>he replied by sticking out his tongue and licking all over the pickle.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He's right about one thing.... that is definitely HIS pickle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that funny episode rattled around in my brain for a few days until this morning, when I started thinking about my sons and the road ahead of them regarding purity.... and a white plastic fork.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Don't ask me how my brain works... just go with it!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is untested - as I don't run a teen group and my kids are too young for this talk... for now. So if you use it, please let me know how it goes.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fork In The Road</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An Object Lesson on Purity</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">by Maggie Buckley, 2012</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Intended Audience: Junior High or Older</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udBHzV4d4qQ/T1S7TMN459I/AAAAAAAAAjM/5IohmP-6vIk/s1600/disposable-plastic-fork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udBHzV4d4qQ/T1S7TMN459I/AAAAAAAAAjM/5IohmP-6vIk/s1600/disposable-plastic-fork.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Materials</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">White plastic forks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sharpie Markers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CAKE! (or some other awesome dessert)</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Instructions</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pass out one plastic fork to each student as well as a Sharpie Marker (any colors - having each kid with a different color will help illustrate this better).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adapt this conversation for your group:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take your fork, and color on it with your Sharpie marker. You don't have to color the whole thing - just make enough of a mark to show you've been there. Imagine you are using the fork for real - the marker symbolizes your spit/germs/etc. But obviously, for germ reasons, we are not all going to lick the forks! Instead, we are going to color with markers to show that we "used" it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now pass the fork 2 to the left. THIS is now your fork. Claim it by coloring on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pass it 3 to the right. THIS is now your fork. Claim it by coloring on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pass it 2 more to the right. THIS is now your fork. Claim it by coloring on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Continue passing the forks around in different directions and patterns until the forks are all yucked-up with marker.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then bring out the gooey dessert.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If all of these people had "licked" or "used" your fork for real, how interested would you be in using the fork to eat this cake?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How many people would prefer that I give them a <i>new, clean fork</i>?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Notice that while you all had fun coloring the forks, but when it actually came time to USE the fork, <i>you didn't want</i> the dirty, germy, used-up forks; you wanted a nice CLEAN un-marked fork.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Notice that sometimes, when you got another fork, someone had colored where you would like to have colored on the fork. You had to move over and find a new place.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now imagine that fork was your body.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When you make decisions about sex you are like the fork. Every time you choose to have sex or intimate behaviors with someone, it is just like when your fork was colored on by someone else . And when you choose to have sex or intimate behaviors with multiple people, you are used over and over just like the forks that were colored on again and again. And, as with a permanent Sharpie marker,<i> those experiences never go away.</i> They are always stored in your brain - comparing experience to experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>When you receive God's wedding gift to you (sex) on your wedding night, you *SHOULD* be able to enjoy it without worrying who else has been there too. And your spouse deserves the same consideration.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Choosing abstinence may not be the world view or the "popular" path... But if you wouldn't even eat cake with a fork that had been used by 1...2...5...10+ other people, <i>why in the world would you share the most intimate of moments with a person who had similarly been so used?!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a bar, the best liquor is kept on the top shelf - hence the expression <i>"Top-Shelf Liquor." </i>This is the most expensive and typically viewed to be "the best" when it comes to liquor. Middle-priced liquor is on the middle shelves - and the bottom shelves, the "well," holds the cheap stuff. Not many people buy the "Top-Shelf" liquor - because it's too expensive and they are just as content with something cheaper or more common. "Top-Shelf" liquor is considered exclusive... special... priceless. Not many people experience a "Top Shelf" drink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>When you are looking for your future husband or wife, you need to be looking for a "Top-Shelf" person</b>. You are deserving of a "Top-Shelf" Spouse! Find someone who didn't choose to be common, used, average, or cheap. Find someone who valued their body enough to treat it as an exclusive treat for their future spouse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back in high school, we studied Robert Frost's poem, "<a href="http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html">The Road Less Traveled</a>." In it, Frost ponders the choice of which path to take when you come to a "fork" in the road:</span></div>
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<tr><td><i>TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,</i></td><td><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3019620486329517405" name="1"></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>And sorry I could not travel both...</i><br />
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<tr><td><i>Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—</i></td><td><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3019620486329517405" name="18"></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>I took the one less traveled by,</i></td><td><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3019620486329517405" name="19"></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td><i>And that has made all the difference.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He took the path LESS traveled - the exclusive one - the one NOT already trampled by a myriad of other people... that THAT has made all the difference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cherish yourself and your body. Treat yourself as a "Top-Shelf" person and look for the same in the person to whom you will pledge your faithfulness and the rest of your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You are worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div>
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<br /></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-25334603935524333042012-02-17T07:37:00.004-05:002012-02-17T07:48:44.981-05:00My Son Found God In His Teeth...<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Obviously, I've been a terrible blogger... as it's been 2 months since my last entry. I've had some great ideas, but I've let myself be distracted with other stuff. Nothing more "important" or anything - just stuff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I wanted to share with you an ongoing story my 8-year old has been telling me. I think it shows how God can speak to us in "everyday, ordinary places." Luke started his musings after a standard trip to the <b>dentist</b>. The next morning, he says <i><b>"Whenever we get a cavity, it's like when we sin against God. The cavity just grows and grows with our bigger sins. Then when we brush our teeth or go to the dentist and have our teeth all fixed up, it's like God's grace - when He forgives our sins... and our teeth are nice and clean again."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They say God speaks to us in mysterious ways.... I don't feel inspired at the dentist, myself. I feel tense, grumpy, and sore! But my sweet son saw a link to God's grace with the swipe of the dentist's toothbrush; the dentist's chair is certainly an everyday, ordinary place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And that's what this blog is really all about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Keep brushing,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-37807940577749084882011-12-15T09:50:00.000-05:002011-12-15T09:50:04.837-05:00The M&M's Christmas Story...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>I love it when creative people come up with awesome ideas for everyday, ordinary objects. </b> Take <b>M&M's</b> - simple, candy-coated chocolate with M's <i>(or W's if you have them upside-down!)</i> - a candy that most everyone have eaten at one time or another.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And yet, with this everyday, ordinary candy, someone saw deeper into the M's & W's - and came up with this little lesson on Christmas:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogmyheartandhome.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/copy-of-the-mm-christmas-story1.jpg?w=231&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blogmyheartandhome.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/copy-of-the-mm-christmas-story1.jpg?w=231&h=300" width="248" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I found this awesome graphic <a href="http://blogmyheartandhome.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/christmas-ideas-neighborhood-gifts/">HERE</a> - <i>a fantastic blog, by the way!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't know if this lady came up with the idea and others followed or if she used the story and added her own graphics. Either way, you have a wonderful and simple way to share the true message of Christmas to others - whether it be a Sunday School class, your neighbors, etc.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>This Christmas, may you look deeper into everyday, ordinary things and find something PRAISE-WORTHY!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Merry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Christmas</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">!</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-37220280644018235162011-12-06T10:15:00.000-05:002011-12-06T10:15:46.156-05:00You are God's Masterpiece!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was in college, I had an assignment in my <i>Art For The Elementary Teacher</i> class to construct something that showed a change between "fantasy and reality." I created a life-size paper-mache horse mask that turned into a glittery unicorn when you inserted the horn up through an opening in his head. It's huge and unwieldy, but I was quite proud of it (got an A+), and even though I took that class nearly 2 decades ago, the horse head is still in our basement and has followed us through two moves. My husband even wore it when our son was 2 and dressed as a cowboy for Halloween - letting Jack upon his back in a "horsey-back" ride while they went trick-or-treating. :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJH8YSLg_0s/Tt4mHFO6cRI/AAAAAAAAAcY/xNXFgrvjjMU/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJH8YSLg_0s/Tt4mHFO6cRI/AAAAAAAAAcY/xNXFgrvjjMU/s320/IMG_1833.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>This is a masterpiece to me</b> - it might not be the prettiest thing to you, but I worked hard on it! But what if my horse had a mind of it's own... the free will to make it's own choices? Even though I spent hours... <i>days!!</i>... crafting him with my own two hands, what if the horse decided that I really didn't know what I was doing after all? What if the horse was positive that what I <i>really </i>meant to create was this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtKRKdF-sxA/Tt4oWeuy5VI/AAAAAAAAAcg/xaL2tR6QaX0/s1600/IMG_1833b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtKRKdF-sxA/Tt4oWeuy5VI/AAAAAAAAAcg/xaL2tR6QaX0/s320/IMG_1833b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I would be frustrated, <i>angry </i>even! That's not what I meant to create! <b>I CREATED what I meant to create!</b> I smoothed on the paper-mache. I brushed the strokes of paint. I attached the long, black mane! I didn't mean for a green mane, or a hoop pierced through my horse's face, or pink, bloodshot eyes. I certainly didn't mean for pink zebra stripes to mar his majestic face!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A friend of mine posted this crazy-disturbing <a href="http://www.bestoday.com.au/sick/archives/tattoos/">link </a>to people who have mutilated their bodies with extreme piercings, full-body tattoos, and something <i>horrendous </i>called "scarification-cutting" where people carve and brand pictures into their skin! These pictures make me sad. I can't imagine the pain receiving these mutilations - and I can't imagine the pain that person might be in who felt they NEEDED these "adjustments" to their bodies.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>And I couldn't help but wonder what God thought of these "improvements" to his masterpieces...</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><b>For we are God’s handiwork</b>, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) says, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He is the Rock, <b>his works are perfect</b>, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>God doesn't make mistakes. God doesn't CREATE mistakes.</b> When Adam and Eve allowed sin into their lives, they paved the way for all kinds of sin to creep into ours. And while we have the free will to mar and mutilate our bodies in a whole variety of ways, or choose activities and actions that blatantly go against the teachings of the Bible, or assure ourselves that "God" was the wrong one, <b>it doesn't make it true</b>. <b>And it doesn't make it okay.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I struggle with weight. I fluctuate between 4 different sizes depending on how I take care of this body. I can blame a low metabolism <i>(yeah, I don't actually have this)</i>, fast food restaurants<i> (French fries are such a weakness!)</i>, the rain <i>(it's too depressing to exercise)</i>, the sun <i>(it's too hot to exercise)</i>, God-"made"-me-love-food <i>(so it's not my fault)</i>, my skinny friends <i>(why can they eat anything and I can't?!!)</i>, whatever. The bottom line is that MY poor choices can turn this body into a blobby mushbag, and my wiser choices can help keep it working better and longer. The choices *I* exercise over this body are my responsibility alone. The choices *I* make to mar one of God's masterpieces are, again, my responsibility.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perhaps if we start to view ourselves as being "<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:14&version=NIV">fearfully and wonderfully</a>" made, in God's image, we would be less likely to justify our poor choices that hurt and harm our bodies, and more likely to take ownership of the masterpiece we have been entrusted to care for.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you formed me in my mother's womb. </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Body and soul, I am marvelously made! </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I worship in adoration—what a creation! </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know me inside and out, </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> you know every bone in my body; </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> how I was sculpted from nothing into something. </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> all the stages of my life were spread out before you, </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> The days of my life all prepared </span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> before I'd even lived one day.</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Psalm 139:13-16, The Msg</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take care of you,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-3290695532312240392011-09-06T07:01:00.001-04:002011-09-06T07:01:00.733-04:00God and the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - Part 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I should probably clean my shower floor more often... because using that Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sure inspired a few different ideas for posts! <a href="http://everydayplaces.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-does-bald-headed-cleaner-guy-and.html">You can read Part I here</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1wx6tQp5I/TmOcSwl_6gI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oKqipb9Z3Gk/s1600/Mr-Clean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1wx6tQp5I/TmOcSwl_6gI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oKqipb9Z3Gk/s200/Mr-Clean.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But on to a different tangent....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I saw a funny quote that said</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways... covered in scars... body thoroughly used up... totally worn out... and screaming, "WHOOOOO-HOOOOOO! WHAT A RIDE!!!"</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And I got to thinking about the talents that God gifts each of us with and THIS story from the Bible:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.</span></i></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. </span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;"><br />
</span></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: blue;">Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'</span></i></b></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Matthew 25:14-30</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I imagine that when we get to Heaven, God would be most pleased for us stagger in with a body so completely and thoroughly used up because we had exhausted ourselves to the bitter end <b><i>using up the talents and gifts and blessings that God gave us.</i></b> Like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser... it starts out like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19thvKN0TmE/TmOchBBLZDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/sZkNQCH8C1g/s1600/mr-clean-magic-eraser-24-cs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19thvKN0TmE/TmOchBBLZDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/sZkNQCH8C1g/s1600/mr-clean-magic-eraser-24-cs.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And after it has done it's job and it's all used up, it looks like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxJ5ol5gV9I/TmOdBDerIPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/kwYfXCK5ANE/s1600/mr-clean-used.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxJ5ol5gV9I/TmOdBDerIPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/kwYfXCK5ANE/s320/mr-clean-used.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wouldn't it be wonderful if, when we finally get to Heaven, we have so completely and thoroughly used up the talents gifted to us from God, that we look like a used Magic Eraser? Okay... <i>maybe not THAT graphic</i>-- but you get the point! <b>How gratifying </b>would it be to stand before the Lord and say, <i>"You gave me these gifts, and HERE is all that I was able to do with them. Thank you?!"</i> And <b>how magnificent</b> would it be for God to reply, <i>"Well done, my good and faithful servant?!!"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward, <u>it is the Lord Christ you are serving</u>.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #777777; line-height: 20px;"><i><cite style="color: #252525; display: block; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Colossians 3:23-24</b></cite></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">God wants us to be smart... but not to live SO cautiously that we forget to use our God-Given talents and gifts to help others. Maybe you have a talent for speaking, or singing, or writing, or teaching. Perhaps you are super-good at organizing things <i>(come to my house!)</i>, or great with technology, or just have a way with people. It may not be a talent you use in your job <i>(but wouldn't that be cool?!)</i>, but God sure would be honored if you'd find <i>many </i>ways to use your gifts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think sometimes we forget about our spiritual gifts as we grow older. Think about what you really, REALLY loved as a kid/tween/teenager... and when did you start moving away from those things? In my 8th grade yearbook, I wrote that I wanted to be an <b>actress </b>or a <b>writer </b><i>(technology as we know it now had not been invented yet - I would have written "special effects designer for Skywalker Ranch and George Lucas" had I known that was an option!). </i>As a teacher for 7 years, I WAS an "actress" at times... getting kids excited about math (when it's my least favorite subject), pretending that I was thrilled when a student brought me 20 cicadas at recess... assuring the principal that lunch duty is, of course, my favorite thing to do... *wink* </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But one of my favorite things-- <b>writing</b>-- fell by the wayside (probably buried in all the papers I had to grade!).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every time I post an article to this blog, I am using a gift that God gave me to bring glory to His name. Every time someone leaves a comment here on the blog or on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EverydayPlaces">EverydayPlaces Facebook page</a>, I get a thrill that <i>something I wrote</i> was well-received by someone else. When I write, I can take this small seed of an idea... and, hopefully more often than not, turn it into something special. And when I use my writing talent to bring glory to His name, I hope he is pleased.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I also love to scrapbook - and have been scrapbooking in some form or another since I was 15 years old. You may wonder how in the world one can combine a talent for scrapbooking with bringing Glory to God, but I was able to teach two different <b>Scrapbooking Bible Studies</b> at my church!! The scrapbooks created by the ladies who took the classes were stunning! When you can combine something you really, REALLY LOVE with a way of honoring God... well... <i>the results are guaranteed to be amazing!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful!</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 Corinthians 12:4-11</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>So what do you love?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>What are your talents?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>And how can you put them to good use for God?!!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3019620486329517405.post-13573015148783876592011-09-04T12:01:00.000-04:002011-09-04T12:01:56.290-04:00What Does a Bald-Headed Cleaner-Guy and Jesus Have in Common?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have this walk-in shower that is all one piece (floor and walls) - the engineers that designed it tried to create a no-slip surface by subtly mottling the floor. I don't know about "no-slip" (get some conditioner on it, and it's quite slick!), but those little divots sure get dirty quickly... and are nearly impossible to clean!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Enter the <i><b>Mr. Clean Magic Bathroom Eraser</b></i>... <i>(*pause for Superhero music):</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1wx6tQp5I/TmOcSwl_6gI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oKqipb9Z3Gk/s1600/Mr-Clean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu1wx6tQp5I/TmOcSwl_6gI/AAAAAAAAAV0/oKqipb9Z3Gk/s1600/Mr-Clean.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With a little effort, the dirt that has fused itself to my shower floor "magically" disappears! What's interesting is that the little white brick started off looking like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19thvKN0TmE/TmOchBBLZDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/sZkNQCH8C1g/s1600/mr-clean-magic-eraser-24-cs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-19thvKN0TmE/TmOchBBLZDI/AAAAAAAAAV4/sZkNQCH8C1g/s1600/mr-clean-magic-eraser-24-cs.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But now looks like this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxJ5ol5gV9I/TmOdBDerIPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/kwYfXCK5ANE/s1600/mr-clean-used.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxJ5ol5gV9I/TmOdBDerIPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/kwYfXCK5ANE/s200/mr-clean-used.jpg" width="178" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aside from the fact that it's NASTY, notice that after it <i>removed?</i> <i>absorbed?</i> all of the stains (leaving my shower floor sparkly-new again), the sponge-like pad is deformed... dirty...broken... <i>completely used up. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">JESUS did that for us.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jesus was like the brilliantly-white, new Mr. Clean Magic Eraser who came down to earth to clean up our mess. By the time His task was complete, He was tired... broken... and completely used up. He was the "Magic Eraser" to our sinful lives. And, because of Him, we can be shiny new each day... every time we ask for forgiveness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><i>Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)</span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>... What we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. </b></span></i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></div><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 5:17-19ish (MSG)</span></h3><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm thankful that every day (every hour or minute if I need it!), I can ask for forgiveness and receive it. I can be washed clean with Jesus the "magical eraser" of sin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">:) Mags</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Magshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16435362147467339192noreply@blogger.com3