Gay Marriage

Okay, so there is so much going on about gay marriages, or unions, whatever they call them.  And then there are those who are saying as  Christians we shouldn't be fighting for God's law that marriage is between a man and a women.  Let me tell you what I think, because I know you are wondering.

I BELIEVE MARRIAGE WAS DESIGNED FOR A MAN AND A WOMAN!!!

That is how we were created and it says so in the bible. The end.

BUT,  let me also say, I do believe it is up to Christians to stand up for the bible and what God has taught.  This in no way, makes be judgemental and lacking in my desire to disciple others.  I have gay friends and family, and I LOVE them.  Some of my most favorite memories in college were hanging with my "gay" friends.  They are some of the most fun people to be around. That doesn't mean I condone their lifestyle, of course I want them to live biblically, however I am a sinner as well.  One sin isn't higher than another. Just b/c they are choosing to sin and go against the bible does NOT mean they can't be saved or that they are not christians.  They very well may be. I mean what about the husband that is cheating on his wife, or one that has multiple wives? Or the one that is a pathological liar, and just lies about the stupidest things? They are all sinning, and to each of them, I would stand up to my christian beliefs that they are not following God. 

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
³⁶ a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

 

This is found in Matthew 10.    God wants us to stand up for what is right. Not just sit by and tolerate it b/c we want to show them love.  We can show them love by standing up for what is right, sometimes love can be hard.  Anyone that has kids can understand that.  We set down rules for our kids to follow, and we enforce them, b/c it is our job and BECAUSE we love them.  Life isn't about making everyone happy, and comfortable, it is about being obedient to the one who created us. 

He loves us, despite of every single one of our sins, JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR GAYS!!!! HE DIED FOR ME!!!!   He wants not one to perish, but ALL to have eternal life.  And bottom line is, that all who BELIEVE that Christ died for his sins, shall make it into heaven!  Gays, lesbians, muderers, adulterors, we will all be standing together in Christs kingdom, if we all accept the FREE GIFT He has given us.  That is what makes Christianity completely amazing in my eyes.  We don't have to do anything, HE DID IT ALL!!!  All we need to do as sinners is to accept the free gift of eternal life that He has offered.  Christ took my sin, with every thorn that pierced his head, every piece of flesh that was ripped open by the whip, each nail the bound Him to the cross, He washed away MY sin!  He did that for me, and for Him, I will teach others about His love and His will for their life.  I will love them regardless of their lifestyle, regardless of their sin. I will stand up for biblical principles.  I can do this because He loves me, and died for me. 

 

 

Here is one of my favorite songs, one that makes me cry every time I hear it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I  I am so humbled that someone could love me so much to die for me.  That is a love that is unconditional, and one that I pray every day to be able to show.  We are all offered a gift, all we have to do is believe HE loved us that much.  He was crucified on that cross for me, for YOU!  He arose three days later!   Celebrate His Love for us this weekend and give Him all the glory and praise for all that you are!  

 

And to any of my gay friends, or any of my unsaved friends that may be reading this, please know how much love I have in my heart for you!  I am in constant prayer that one day we will be in God's paradise together!   Here is the prayer:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

Easter Season

HAPPY EASTER!!! What an awesome season this is, and what a time to reflect and learn from Jesus our Savior.  He modeled to us servanthood, and obedience. The King of all creation taught us to serve each other!   At the last supper He wrapped a towel around His waist, and washed all of the disciples feet.  Now I don't know about you but I hate feet!   And those feet were really dirty!  walking in the dusty dirty streets with sandals, He bowed before them and did this dirty job.  Can you imagine washing your enemies dirty feet?  Sinking to that level and doing them a service?  He washed Judas' feet, the feet of the man who betrayed Him in an unthinkable way!  Not only did He wash his feet, He did it with LOVE!   Talk about big steps to follow.  Sheesh!   I pray that I will have a servants heart like that!

Let's go to the garden of Gethsemene.  Jesus was praying to His daddy.  He was anguished and full of grief.  He asked our heavenly Father to  take this cup from Him.  Jesus knew what was about to happen, and He prayed to God to stop it from happening, He prayed to God a couple times, maybe hoping He could change His mind?  Jesus added to the prayer though, YOUR WILL NOT MINE BE DONE!!  He knew that even though this was gonna hurt, and He didn't want to go through it that if it be God's will, it would be for good.  We should all learn to pray like that and when we are asking for something, we be okay for God's will to be done, because in the end it will be much better than ours.
You know what else I think of, how God's heart must've ached, to know what His son must endure, and to have to let Jesus go through that.  I know how my heart hurts when my kids are suffering. God watched it all, all so those who were doing the torturing, the whipping, the nailing, the spitting, and the mocking, so that they could have eternal life.  God LOVES even those who don't know Him, those who are against Him, He loves  them enough to sacrifice His one and only son!  Wow, how I pray to be able to love like that!

The last thing that amazes me about this weekend and the amazing things that were done for me, is that as Jesus was on that cross bleeding for me, He also prayed for me. He asked God to forgive them, they know not what they are doing.  Everytime, I sin (which is multiple times a day) it is that prayer and that act of unconditional love of my King dying on the cross for me that gives me the ability of having eternal life.  Jesus LOVES each and every person here on this earth so much, that he was tortured,  and crucified on the cross, so that we are forgiven. 

I am forgiven!  That doesn't mean I am perfect, it means I make mistakes and lots  of them! BUT, I have Jesus Christ in my corner, He has paid the penalty for my sin, it is through His perfect life that I am saved, and that I have a seat up in heaven!   He has conquered the grave, and my sins are gone!  This is the season to PRAISE HIM!   To HIM be the glory!!

Crucifixion was a form of torture that literally knocked the wind out of a person. The weight of the body suspended by the arms caused immediate pain in the chest, paralyzing the pectoral muscles and making breathing extremely difficult. The person being crucified could inhale but had great difficulty exhaling. To exhale he had to push on his feet and straighten his legs to release the pressure exerted on his arms and chest. But the pain that this caused to his feet was so excruciating, because of the nails, that he would immediately cease any such effort. Death usually occurred within two or three days. But when the Romans wanted to shorten his agony, they would break his legs. So, unable to straighten himself with the help of his legs, the man would suffocate rapidly. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves crucified with Jesus to hasten their deaths, but Jesus’ legs were not broken because he was already dead (John 19:3133). Thus was accomplished a prophecy from Scripture saying that none of his bones would be broken (John 19:36). It is in this context, while he was fighting for his every breath, that Jesus uttered his last words.

While they were nailing his hands and feet to the cross, or a little later, when they were putting up the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

The majority of bandits and criminals, defiant and furious, would yell curses and insults while being nailed to a cross, but Jesus, filled with an amazing calmness and an inexplicable love, interceded with the Father for the forgiveness of his torturers. As J.C. Ryle, the famous Anglican Bishop of Liverpool expressed so well, “While the blood of the greatest sacrifice started to flow, the greatest of all high priests started to intercede.” Jesus, since he was God in the form of man, could have condemned his torturers or destroyed them with his breath. But then what would his sufferings have accomplished? He came to save and not to judge. He preferred to die for the guilty, which required of him even more strength and courage.

Praying for one’s torturers is not human. Jesus was able to do it because of his intimate relationship with the Father. By so doing, he accomplished the words of the prophet Isaiah, “He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53.12)

Touched by the repentant attitude and the faith of one of the thieves crucified with him, Jesus turned towards him and declared, “ I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43

HSP week 2

We are in our second week of the HSP Journey.  My strong little 7 year old has been such a trooper!  We are so lucky to have a mild case of this.  He only missed 3 days of school last week.  Here's how it went, Weds his wrists were swollen, Thursday his left ankle a little.  Friday  his left testes, was deflated by by saturday night and looks bruised:)  Saturday and sunday his left calf muscle was sore.  He had a great weekend was able to play and enjoy it!  We got chickens on sunday and he was out helping get them set up and the coop all ready.  The rash seemed to be fading, lots of bumps but nothing to bad.  Hasn't had stomach pains in a few nights. Saw the pediatrician today(monday) she was impressed with how mild it was, said it could go on like this for up to two months.  Monday evening rash around his right knee is really red and his knee is swollen and he asked for some pain medicine before bed.  I am guessing he won't make it to school tomorrow.  Sigh, I am ready fro this to be over.  I know I shouldn't complain, we are so blessed to have a mild case of this. I have read so many stories of kids being hospitalized for weeks at a time because of the severity of this disorder.  It just makes my heart sad that he is in pain, and there is nothing we can do about it. Just sit around and wait!  On a positive note, urine and BP were normal, so his kidneys seem to be handling it okay. 

HSP Journey

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (pronounced: heh-nok shoon-line purr-puh-ruh) — usually just called HSP — is a condition that causes small blood vessels, or capillaries, to become swollen and irritated. This inflammation, called vasculitis, usually occurs in the skin, intestines, and kidneys. Inflamed blood vessels in the skin can leak red blood cells, causing a characteristic rash called purpura. Vessels in the intestines and kidneys also can swell and leak


My 7 year old son started showing symptoms last weds. Stomach pains last weds, & thursday. Friday he started limping, his right ankle to the knee was swollen, his right index finger knuckle was swollen, went to urgent care, they had no answers. He couldn't walk the rest of the evening. Saturday morning went to pediatrician and she diagnosed him, took urine sample said it was normal. Monday had follow up appointment, Dr. said he could go to school, tuesday he woke up and his left ankle was swollen, & he was unable to go to school. Tuesday night stomach pains were bad at nighttime, so I gave him Ibuprofen. Weds morning his wrists were both swollen, but he went to school. Weds after school, rash is starting to itch, and left ankle is swelling again. We have been doing this for a week now. The Dr. seemed to think this seemed like a pretty mild case. I WANT to think that, but I have read it can get good than bad. 

I am going to start blogging our journey down this path.  It is amazing that this can cause such symptoms one day and then the next he is almost normal.  I know that this is relatively short compared to some disorders, they say 4 weeks.  I am praying that this is a mild case, I feel pretty calm about it most days, but I have a lingering thought that we are just waiting for it to be full blown painful. There are so many stories online about kids being hospitalized numerous times from this.  I don't want  it to go there.  Seeing your child hurting and not being able to do much is so hard.  Looking forward to the end of this road.