June 6, 2009 by pamela ♥.

  So, you’re here again today for a visit at the kitchen table.  I’m having a cup of tea… because of some recent health problems, I’m making some radical changes.  Yes… sniffle, sniffle, one of them includes drastically reducing coffee consumption — caffeine, really, and anything that contributes to high blood-pressure and high cholesterol.  I have a little elevation of one and a lot of the latter.   

So, I’m trying not to get too caught up in the going’s on.  But it’s really difficult to ignore blatant apostacy.  I mean, as I have written a number of times in the past, it’s expected that the world will decline, degrade and decay.  And it’s really not unexpected that the most effective way or place for the devil to move is to have a slow and steady, multi-pronged attack against and within the church — either subtly, boldly, directly or indirectly. Watch for it — you’ll see: it’s happening!  It’s really happening.  And I’m not talking about trends of worship style in what most mainstream Christians mean when they refer to church — the meetings that happen on Sunday mornings — or for the very contemporary: Saturday evening.  Because, contrary to common misconceptions — what happens on Sunday mornings (or Saturday evenings) isn’t church — it might be a meeting of the church, but it’s not church.  Church is not a place or event but a body of believers — and people do a lot of things for or against ‘the church’ because of what they think of the event (or location) that happens on Sunday mornings — or what’s happening to the building ‘the church’ meets in.

The Proverbs (27.12 & 22.3)

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

A combination of local and national headlines and news stories, recent ‘church’ news and clips, and recent scripture studies have me just shaking my head again and again.  I’m grieved over the slip ‘n slide of the church in America.  Just read titles of books in the “christian” bookstore or read anything by “progressive” christians and you’ll see the blast of decay.  I’ve been trying to make a point to not be caught up in all the verbiage and mess of politics and global garbage and all the emergent lies — I really have been looking for glimpses of fruit — sweet fruit.  So, truly, it’s with near anguish I consider the pitiful decline of the church... the shameful view or portrayal of God and His Word — the utter lack of wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God’s Word coupled with the arrogance and carelessness of so-called “pastors” and “preachers” of the Word.

So… here at the kitchen table this afternoon I’ve been reviewing some different mails that have come in, newsletters and links that have been suggested.  I think of the different things going on and I marvel at the stunning actions, remarks and positions being made or taken by notorious ‘mega church’ pastors and ‘leaders’ today. People are flocking after many of these illustrious individuals and I would hazard to guess they don’t really even know what these men are actually saying — and truly, it’s a lack of understanding what the Bible really says and their simple acceptance of whatever’s being bandied about.

I had no idea that Frank Navasky was so down-to-earth… You read his stuff, you think he’s going to be so obscure and abstruse. He’s always talking about Heidigger and Foucault and I have no idea what any of it’s about, really.”

This is a line from the movie, You’ve Got Mail, and the character was gushing over reporter, Frank Navasky’s work.  It seems to me that that’s how many Christians are behaving toward *many* of the mainstream church ‘leaders’ today — just gushing.  It’s amazing… and what’s so astonishing about it all is that I truly believe a lot of them don’t even know they’re being totally duped by these ‘pastors.’

• In the “you-just-can’t-make-this-stuff-up” category, consider this: a local church is giving away money to its congregants –or, actually, anyone…
  

“People who take the money aren’t required to be members, and it doesn’t matter if they’ve never been to the church before, Ehoff said. He’s not worried about losing the odd $100, and expects most families to bring in a profit.”

They say the plan is biblical… a loaves and fishes sort of deal.   I’m trying to be charitable here, I am.  I really am.  But I’ve just gotta say — this. is. unbelievable. and. it’s. sad.  Considering the justification of what really is looking a lot like gambling… justifying their decision because of Jesus’ parable of the talents and also His miracle of feeding thousands with five loaves and two fish.  And to make it applicable to their situation?!?!!?!!?!!  So… in three months the folks will return the money and any profit they miraculously make — hmmmm… it’s like a game — each member needing a $40,000. miracle.   Only… it’s not a game — the church needs a f.o.u.r  m.i.l.l.i.o.n. d.o.l.l.a.r. “miracle” for their expansion bcz their bank loan fell through.  It’s like they might as well just check in with the government and its form of miracle-making… you know: money out of thin air — but it’s really money that’s not even theirs to budget, grab and spend.

  I know I am sounding critical — and believe me, I do not want to be harsh—I so want to be loving here.  I just must say — this seems to me to be sooooo lacking true faith, trust and obedience in, for and to the LORD — our Living LORD God.  It’s just unconscionable.

I keep wondering…  will the church wake up and see?

Posted in Life in Laodicea, The Church Today, Potpourri | Print | 3 Comments »

April 22, 2009 by pamela ♥.

I’m doing housekeeping today… many things needed sorting and filing, washing and ironing.  Teatime brought to mind some thoughts from the past weekend.

• It’s getting fiercer and fiercer, the slick and sick double standard of those who scream to be tolerated –  not just tolerated, but venerated — endorsed — lauded.   I’m not a proponent of beauty pageants per se, but it’s sure detestable that a ‘qualified contestant’ is being dragged through the mud for articulating her answer to a question regarding her thoughts on marriage — the answer was contrary to one or more of the “judges’” personal beliefs and, therefore, she’s unqualified.  So much for tolerance.
• The new Free Speech:  You’re free to say what you like and hold the beliefs you choose to hold so long as you make sure you agree with  homosexual behaviour and the propaganda machine that is ravaging the world.   And if you don’t believe there’s an agenda, read:  The Marketing of Evil by David Kupelian — you’ll be introduced in that book to another book, After the Ball, and if you dare to read it (and I don’t say this lightly, it is not light reading and may not be suitable for anyone) it is sobering, you’ll see the agenda is well underway and very, very successful in a dark way.   (I wrote about Mr. Kupelian’s book a few years ago…. I can’t recall the blog date on that).

• Voddie Baucham

  Family Driven Faith

  A man who is not afraid to speak the Truth.

  
  

  David Kupelian’s

  The Marketing of Evil 
  
  

  it’ll change the way you see everything in society!

• As long as you don’t mess with the agenda, you’ll be accepted — if not, you’ll be castigated, mocked and scorned to death.  You can read a bit more of what happens when you dare to teach the truth which is not believed by a percentage of the population.   We attended the Worldview Apologetics Conference held at the Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue last weekend — obviously a predetermined target — at the start of the conference, the church building was vandalized by a group determined to “bash back” with pink paint, foul words and phrases and broken locks and other damages.

  Two of the speakers at the seminar were Voddie Baucham and Doug Geivett.  Both were excellent at articulating the Truth of the Word, the climate of society today and the bold attempt to destroy the Truth and Believers.   Voddie Baucham is probably one of the most articulate and inspiring speakers I’ve ever had the privilege of listening to.  I first heard him and thought this two years ago at the Heritage Homeschool conference — he will be the keynote speaker again this year.  If you haven’t heard him or read any of his books, I would highly recommend that you hear his talks and read his books.  For info on the Christian Heritage Conference being held this coming weekend go here.    I would recommend this conference for *every* believer… *every* parent.

• One of the weapons against the church or “conservatives” is the word: hate.  If you disagree, you hate.  If you disagree, you’re a hater.  If your view is Biblical, you’re intolerant.  If you, on biblical grounds, disagree with a lifestyle choice, you are an intolerant, judgmental person.  But those who disagree with Christians… are not judgmental?Christians must judge situations — Christians must prove all things — must hold to that which is good.

  Those in disagreement are duping Christians into believing they must be tolerant… they say Christians are not to judge — au contraire — Christians must identify that which is Truth and follow it — and those things that are contrary to the Truth are to be condemned - it takes wise judgment to discern good and evil.  I marvel that Christians are willing to allow ideas contrary to the Word of God to determine their world view.   For lack of knowledge, believers are being destroyed.  When Bible teachers do not teach what the Word says and believers do not read what the Word says — and when, instead, “pastors” teach from stories of paraphrases of the Bible, people, who do not study for themselves what the Scriptures say, will be ignorant of the Truth.

Fear of being judged by those who hate God’s Word
is keeping those who would love God from obeying His Word.

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April 21, 2009 by pamela ♥.

Love is not Irritable.
This chapter begins with a verse from Proverbs 16.32
And then continues, “Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive.”

To be irritable means ‘to be near the point of a knife.’ Not far from being poked.  People who are irritable are locked, loaded, and ready to overreact.”

I know I get irritable when there’s a deadline and I’ve not adequately prepared for it… when I don’t feel well and don’t have a quick solution… when I don’t have a meal prepared on time or when I’ve not planned well enough for an event or when I think things will never change in this or that person’s life — in all this — even knowing that there’s nothing whatsoever I can do about the situation, I still fret and become irritable sometimes — but I determine not to be irritable with my husband.   I have continually striven to stop and recount the ways of the LORD and His dealings and have sought to live in accordance with His Word — bcz it is there that I know I will find hope and peace for certian.

A little further on in the chapter we read,

A loving husband will remain calm and patient showing mercy and restraining his temper.  Rage and violence are out of the question.  A loving wife is not overly sensitive or cranky but exercises emotional control.  She chooses to be a flower among the thorns and respond pleasantly during prickly situations.”

The book suggests that there are at least two key reasons for irritability — stress and selfishness.   Of selfishness we read:

When you are irritable, the heart of the problem is primarily a problem of the heart.”  (Matthew 12.34)

I smiled as I read differences between people and the characteristics of fruits — peaches and lemons.  So, when things get stressful and the squeeze is on… remember lemons and peaches — be a peach, the result is sweet.

Being easily angered is an indicator that a hidden area of selfishness or insecurity is present where love is supposed to rule.  But selfishness also wears many other masks:  Lust… Bitterness… Greed… Pride…  These motivations can never be satisfied. But when love enters…”

I liked the analogies and comparisons.  I like ‘two things’ type lists — catchy phrases, and the exhortation in this chapter to “respond… with patience and encouragement rather than anger and exasperation.”

Today’s Dare

Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation.  Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule.  The list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life [I would write:  list any wrong motivations you need to repent of, confess as sin and seek forgiveness for].
_____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.”

To the questions, I am mulling over my responses — I know I need to work on priorities and to stay ahead of my work — for I am learning more and more that I will neglect important things or drop important things — schedule-wise — instead of saying or volunteering in advance that I cannot do something by a specific date/time.  I recognize that these failures lead to irritability — the very last thing I want to be / respond.

Where do you need to add margin to your life?  When have you recently overreacted?  What was your real motivation behind it?  What decisions have you made today?

I’m mulling this over — especially in light of some recent health problems in which I have had to realize I am not handling things as well as I had thought and that I need to not fret about things — I need to just rest in what I can do today and not get caught up in what others are doing or what I think they might be thinking if I don’t have this or that thing done.  My husband’s been very, very helpful to me in seeing these things.  O, for grace to trust the LORD with things I grieve over — things I cannot do anything about.

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April 20, 2009 by pamela ♥.

Today’s “Dare” begins:  Love is not rude.

Once again, I find it difficult to carry out the dare of the day.  I say this because I genuinely feel as though I am never rude to my husband.   In fact, from the beginning of our marriage, courtesy and manners have been something we’ve continually practiced.  But I am determined to go through this book and so I read the chapter and considered the definitions, thoughts and suggestions.  And then I had thought on them for a number of days.

Nothing irritates others as quickly as being rude.  Rudeness is unnecessarily saying or doing things that are unpleasant for another person to be around.  To be rude is to act unbecoming, embarrassing, or irritating.”

I’ve considered several scenarios and I’ve realized that I will occasionally make a comment that interrupts or even contradicts something my husband has said.  In times past I have thought I do this bcz I know him so well that I know what he meant to say and so I occasionally interject what he meant to say.  And you know… I got to thinking about this and realize that I need to keep this in check — O, I’m not saying I wouldn’t tell him something — but rather, the way it’s done is what I need to determine to redouble my efforts to consider.

 The chapter continues with suggestions as to what rudeness looks or sounds like and some Scriptures — concerning how rude behaviour affects a husband (Proverbs 25.24) and the importance of discretion and graciousness. (Proverbs 112.5)  The sugesstions were followed by some questions — one being:

Would your husband or wife say that you are a blessing, or that you’re condescening and embarrassing?”

Then tree suggestions (with comments):
1. Guard the Golden Rule…
2. No double standards…
3. Honour requests…

Just yesterday I heard a request — I complied… but I didn’t complete the task — and actually didn’t realize I hadn’t completed the task.  Do you know why?  I hadn’t listened carefully to the information I was given.  I hadn’t paid close attention to the details.  Now, in that situation there was no harm done whatsoever — except — that I hadn’t paid close attention to specifics.  So from that I now know two things — the next time I am to complete that specific task, my husband will remind me of what I missed this time and *I* will pay very close attention to look in the place he told me I would find the product he had purchased. :o)

Do you think I wanted to ask the questions in this chapter’s exercise?  Really… I don’t mind — even though, as with any test, confrontation or question I get nervous that I won’t measure up.  I know one thing’s for sure — when my husband tells me something I need to do or something he’d like to have done I kow he is *for* me and wants the very best for me.  Time and experience has proven this over and over.  I am assured of his love and respect.  Here’s this chapter’s dare:

 Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you.  You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behaviour.  This is from their perspective only.”

______ check here when you’ve completed today’s dare.

There’s space in the book to record what your spouse pointed out; space to record how you handled it; and space to record what you plan to do to improve these areas.   Tomorrow, Day 6:  Love is Not Irritable.

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April 12, 2009 by pamela ♥.

I’m in awe… thankful and amazed at the mercy of God.
I could never do anything, be anything, think anything: to earn my way to redemption.
But God! Because of the cross… 

because of Jesus

– Jesus alone
I stand redeemed. I stand in awe, I stand redeemed.

Consider Jesus… who lived among men, was crucified, suffered, died, rose again, was seen by many, ascended into heaven
and ever lives to make intercession for us who believe.
Jesus is coming again. 

Trust in Him.
Believe today… repent and follow Him.

because of Jesus… we have life.

  “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12.2

One day I will see my Saviour face to Face and I will be home… today, because of the Cross,
because of the finished work of Jesus Christ… through faith by the grace of God: I stand redeemed.

It’s only Jesus.  It’s always been just Jesus.
 ”Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4.12

He is Risen!

Jesus is Alive

the stone’s been rolled away…

God has given the greatest gift ever given. 

The awful stone of your life can be rolled away today…

and for you today — today — can be the day of salvation.

Salvation through faith in the living LORD — Yeshua… Jesus 

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March 28, 2009 by pamela ♥.

I’m seeking to carry on this birthday celebration for as long as I can.  Why, I just might even name this blog: The Birthday Celebration Blog!  But I doubt it.  I mean, I think after a while, it would be rather boring to read about someone dancing day after day bcz she loves that she turned *50* — an age she never thought she’d be — and lives to write about it — or writes to live about it.

Some of the sweet things that Spring brings each year — I know, besides my birthday — are other’s birthdays.  And this year I have had the great privilege of sharing my birthday celebration with my dear mother-in-law.  What a gift she is and has been to me all these many years!  So, it was with great joy and anticipation that we celebrated our birthdays on Friday night.  It was all perfect… Skyping with Timothy was so fun!  So fun to have all the family be able to talk with him!  I was sure missing some of our boys who weren’t home for the party.  Those are the kinds of quiet heart aches that seem to be tenderly present — just below the surface — during an event as special as this was.

Kathryn, Hannah and Tara prepared the most delectable meal for the celebration!  I cannot believe all attention to detail and all they did to make the evening so special!  Coconut prawns… now, those were just an appetizer! Then we had delicious punch, breads, salad, rib-roast, oven roasted potatoes and fruit.  And then… a huge birthday cake along with ice cream and a luscious Lemon Trifle that Kathryn made.

We all sure had a marvelous evening — many laughs, stories, fun things… eating dinner and talking together!
It really was a wonderful and memorable time!

Singing………

and then cards and presents!  What fun!!

Posted in My life, Potpourri | Print | 4 Comments »

March 27, 2009 by pamela ♥.

The Fiftieth Birthday… goes on and on…

It was a wonderful day!  In the first photo, I was having a cup of coffee at the Useless Bay Coffee company!  Yes!  Wes took me and his dear mother on the ferry to Langley where we enjoyed a mocha and a ginger-pear scone!  It was perfect and that mocha was the *best* I’ve ever had!  ;o)

 Then, the next photo is the first of a few birthday desserts!  This is a torte that Kathryn made — with Irish Creme Mousse and Ganache fillings.  It was so yummy!!

 I have been saying that had I known 50 would be so sweet, I would have wished to get here sooner!!

On the morning of my 50th birthday, our daughters, Kathryn & Hannah (with their helpers Naomi & Amelia) prepared a lovely tea party for me and my mother and step father, and my mother in law.    It was really a sweet day! Then in the evening, I was treated to dessert at the Cabbage Patch restaurant in Snohomish.

 
Kathryn arranged for me to have an scenic airplane ride!  I’d never been up in a small plane before!!
I was laughing soo much!  I *always* laugh when I am nervous or excited about something!!
It was truly amazing to me how effortlessly we just flew over so many beautiful places in such a short time!
We flew around Mt. Pilchuck — covered in snow!  It will be a long time before I will be able to go back up to the top of that mountain since it was totally white with snow — but I will climb that mountain again… just not as soon as I had hoped!!

 
I received such beautiful flowers!!  Tulips from Kathryn were just exquisite — for the tea party.  And then, this elegant bouquet (above) was delivered to me the day before my birthday… from my dear friend, Kelli who lives in Idaho!  I was absolutely delighted to receive this special gift!!  Isn’t it lovely!?!  And this one (below) was a gift from Daniel and Tara…   And the peach roses from Nancy… I love them so much — they’re the most delightful thing to wake up and see each morning!!
I think my lighting was pretty ‘off’ when I was taking these photos!  Ooops!
    

…and that’s not all!!  There’s more to tell!  We still had one more family birthday party yesterday!!
Can it be?
–Every– day of a person’s life after *50* is  a  c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-o-n?!?
♥  I think so!!  ♥

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March 24, 2009 by pamela ♥.

  It’s getting harder to decide which memory or which favourite event to share in this list of “30 Favourite Things of my Fiftieth Year.”  I was thinking today that one thing I’m so thankful for in this past year is the realization that time is passing — time has passed. 

And so, one of my favourite things has been the many times I’ve realized that I might never do this or that thing again and so I’ve made a concerted effort to do things - to live intentionally instead of by default. 

I remember some years ago that my mother remarked about an elderly aunt:  She’s always so upbeat, always so eager for the day.  I consider that fairly often, actually.  That’s not who or how I am by nature — eager.  No — But that’s just what I want to be, that’s how I want to be or how I want to respond: eager — eagerly.

So, whether it’s going somewhere, cheering the boys in soccer, doing chores, reading and studying, projects or maintenance… I just want to be eager about them all.  I want to have enthusiasm for the day instead of dread, complacency or carelessness.  I guess intentionally doing many different things in this past year has made me realize more than ever:  there is *so* much to do.    And I want to get at it!!

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March 24, 2009 by pamela ♥.

A little fun…

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March 19, 2009 by pamela ♥.

  We have a tradition in our family that began with our firstborn son, Daniel, and we’ve carried it on through the years.  Amazingly.  Well - I say amazingly bcz it truly is amazing to me that not only did we set about doing this same thing or carrying on this tradition, but that we’ve been able to do it each time an eighteenth birthday comes along.

I smile at the coincidence this entry being blog post #18 of 30 Favourite Things from my fiftieth year.

Twelve or thirteen years ago, before our son, Daniel, turned eighteen, we talked about what we would do to celebrate his eighteenth birthday.  We talked about what we’d do - where we’d go and how we’d commemorate his birthday and completion of school.  So, we chose what we thought was a very special and very unique place to take him for dinner.  Since the dinner menu prices were so exorbitant, we decided: lunch instead!  We surprised him that morning as we made our way to Seattle and the Space Needle, one of Seattle’s most famous landmarks.

It wasn’t until lunch with Timothy a few years ago that we decided to include everyone who had reached that 18th birthday in the celebration.  That idea came to us quite by surprise.  Wes had called Daniel whose office is downtown Seattle and he was able to get away and join us for lunch that day.

Which brings me to this past year — last April — when Samuel’s eighteenth birthday came around, we made plans for his special lunch.   Though both Kathryn and Timothy were in Uganda and Ghana, and were sadly not able to be there with us, we did take Samuel to the Space Needle and we delighted that both Daniel and Michael were able to join in Samuel’s 18th birthday celebration.  I felt like a queen dining with those four handsome men — it was wonderful.

It was really quite a delicious lunch and a wonderful time as we talked about days gone by, about Samuel’s plans for the future and previous eighteenth birthday celebrations!  I’m so thankful we did that… so thankful for traditions!

Samuel enjoyed the  Lunar Orbiter Dessert… ahot fudge sundae set in a bowl over dry ice… it’s pretty impressive — something the Space Needle Restaurant has been serving since the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh another sweet and happy memory from my fiftieth year… and to think there’s more!! ;o)

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March 6, 2009 by pamela ♥.

  It seems I’m continually working on talks and I started thinking back on the last year or so and I can only marvel at the work of the LORD.  It is bay the grace of God that I can do the meetings or give the talks at Titus 2 meetings or retreats or whatever.  It is because God never wastes a thread that I am able to piece together some significant and insignificant events and fit them with Truths of God’s Word and other events in life and convey messages that, hopefully and prayerfully, help other women.

For some time now I have had the honour of teaching at a monthly Titus2 meeting of women.  I say “God never wastes a thread…” quite often.  Though, quite often, I don’t see the threads the LORD is using in a particular situation.  But over the last year I saw a thread in the preparation of different talks and the ‘co-incident’ of my cousin writing me to ask if I might help her find another cousin - her half-brother.

A co-incident, to me over the years, is one of those times where the horizontal meets the Vertical.  An incident where God meets us where we’re at in order that His purposes will be revealed and accomplished.  In talks, I use a lot of hand gesturing and when I refer to co-incidents I don’t say coincidence, I say: Co-incidents and I gesture with my arms out flat and then move them to form a vertical motion.

Well, truly God never wastes a thread… here I have been thinking, studying, talking about and writing about reconciliation — that greatest Co-incident in all of life - that Co-incident of the Cross — the horizontal meeting the Vertical - the greatest event a person will ever experience on this side of heaven is meeting Jesus at the foot of the Cross and receiving the gift of reconciliation to God in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  And then I had all those opportunities to teach and then that phone call which led to a series of letters and phone calls.

The thread I never really saw until recently was that God had allowed many experiences that I talked over with both of those cousins in different conversations and I realized that the very things that have caused me greatest pain, fear, weakness and doubt have been carefully allowed, mended and woven together by God and have been part of the foundation of faith and have given me both empathy and compassion for others and have deepened my message.  Had God not been guiding me and reforming me I would be so lost today.

All of this was made a bit clearer to me in talking with my cousin — and I only have a few! — whom I’ve never seen or talked to for over 40 years.  It was unbelievably easy to talk with him.  In talking to him about the suicide death of his father, I realized that one of his greatest trials in life and one of my greatest trials in life happened at the same time.  I realized God was revealing a thread.  I told him that as we were talking… I shared that during that month in August of 1970 we both entered an intersection of life and both experienced a collision  — actually, totally unrelated collisions - but both happened that month.    We talked long and the conversation was flowed with ease.  I was amazed.  I think he was, too.  A lot more became clear and was reconciled — not just family but lots of questions, too.

I don’t often actually talk about those collisions — his or mine.  I think he said he rarely talks about his.  But here’s another twist of that thread… ironic as it is: he’s a therapist and works at a hospital with patients dealing with mental disorders and suicide.  Isn’t that interesting?

And mine?  Over the years, bcz I’ve had opportunity to teach studies and speak at retreats, I’ve occasionally shared this part of my life story… it’s given me opportunity to give hope and encouragement to women who are hurting.  I’ve talked and prayed with many women who were/are dealing with post trauma of childhoodsexual abuse — women who experienced the death of innocence and security as little girls. The know I understand and are looking for someone to trust — someone to listen.

So, why is this on my list of 30 favourite things from my fiftieth year?  Simple.  God mercifully showed me a glimpse of a thread He’s faithfully holding.

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March 6, 2009 by pamela ♥.

  And send them in!!

Please read more about the so-called Freedom of Choice Act here:
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html     http://www.barackobama.com
http://www.jillstanek.com

On the back of the empty, stamped Red Envelope,
please write the following message:

“This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.  It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to have life and be a part of our world.”
red envelope day . com
TODAY!!    Mail an empty Red Envelope to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500

EDIT:   ANOTHER Obamanation — On Monday, March 9th, President Obama is scheduled to reverse the embryonic stem-cell research ban.  Call the White House — stand up and speak for the millions of babies whose voices are not heard.  O… God save this nation from itself.

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March 6, 2009 by pamela ♥.

Of all the things I’ve done in the last year, I think climbing Mt. Pilchuck was probably my favourite personal accomplishment — or, at least it’s something I’m most glad I did.  Through all the years of pregnancies and nursing babies, tending the home, homeschooling the children and church related commitments, I didn’t even consider a lot of outside activities — well, at least not outside of my small realm, anyway.  And I certainly never even considered hiking.  Probably not even once.  Really.

I would have said that I am just not the “outdoorsy” type and that the only reason to walk somewhere would be to get something or put something away.  Walking for the sake of walking or hiking just to hike would never have been in the realm of possibility for me.  I never considered hiking to be… well, wait… I just never considered hiking.

But year after year I would see that mountain in the distance… its jagged peaks covered in snow and on winter afternoons, the sun shining on it at sunset made it sort of glow. I knew different people who climbed Mt. Pilchuck and raved about how beautiful it was there.  I remember some time after we moved to this house I would say: I’m going to climb that mountain when I am 40.  Okay… so that never happened.  Then a couple of years ago I recalled that I had said that.  I’d occasionally heard people talking about hikes and favourite destinations — one being Heather Lake and another, Mt. Pilchuck. Some of our children had even hiked there.

My husband, wise man that he is, set a time for us to hike to Heather Lake… and as we were hiking, I thought to myself… why would people do this over and over?  Then we rounded a point on the trail that brought Heather Lake into view and I realized for the first time in my life that there are just some things for which there is no reason but for the beauty of a scene or the experience of seeing — simply seeing — God’s marvelous creation.  And that hike was one such experience.

After that, I knew I just must get to the top of Mt. Pilchuck — and that nothing would deter me. ;o)  And so I set the date in my mind and our whole family made the hike on my half-birthday.  I knew they could do it… but I never thought I could — mostly bcz I hadn’t ever tested myself to see what I had in me, if you know what I mean.  I love to work - and I love to work hard - but I don’t hike… ride bikes… skate… play sports or anything like that. But I thought… am I never going to do tough things again in my life?  Am I never going to do ‘athletic’ things?  Wow… that was shocking - bcz I adamantly determined that that wasn’t going to be the case — I was going to do things — lots of things!  And climbing that mountain was one of them!!  It’s sort of like I realized that until I die I am going to live - and do so intentionally!

As I look out today — those beautiful snow-capped  peaks gleaming in the sun — I have an anxious feeling:  I gotta get back to the top of that mountain.  I can’t wait.

I was crying when I reached the summit and climbed that ladder to the look-out tower.  I had made it!  My sweet family was with me!  The next thing to do was to go inside to document the event in the guestbook.  Next time I go I’m going to bring back a rock from the top — I forgot to do that last time!

Actually, my bigger goal was to walk out and stand on the rock… it was totally worth the whole hike!  In the photo below, because of the extreme wind, I had stepped down to the lower rock of the ridge… it was quite a thrill.  I loved seeing for miles and miles and looking out at all the cities below… I loved the totally out in the open feeling and the blessing of standing on the mountaintop as a living picture of lessons I’ve learned in life walking with the LORD through valleys and mountaintops.

All the way up the mountain I had been singing over and over again the chorus:  “When the morning comes on the farthest hill, I will sing His Name, I will praise Him still; When dark trials come and my heart is filled with the weight of doubt I will praise Him still…. For the Lord our God He is strong to save, from the arms of death to the deepest grave, and He gave us life in His perfect will and by His good grace I will praise Him still…”

Standing on that mountaintop… I remembered I had determined to live! before I die.

Praise, praise the Lord.

As I look out at the peak today… I smile thinking: I’ve been there!  I can’t wait to go again!!

Posted in my fiftieth year, My life, Potpourri | Print | 2 Comments »

February 7, 2009 by pamela ♥.

Good and faithful servant… enter into the Joy of the LORD.  As for Andrew Mark; the LORD hastened the day when his faith would become sight.

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February 6, 2009 by pamela ♥.

The gruesome atrocity of abortion murdering babies must be exposed…. the truth must be made known.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thank you, Christina, for this. It’s very, very hard to see… but the truth is worth it - babies’ lives are being destroyed.

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February 5, 2009 by pamela ♥.

God bless the Andrew Mark family.

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January 30, 2009 by pamela ♥.

 I’m thinking of how our children learn, what motivates them the most and what creates the greatest results in homeschooling?  Yes! it’s enthusiasm and love — it’s saying to our children: I am so for you!!  I love you!!

Maybe at home today we need to give a little more attention to what’s most important and, remember, we all need a little more enthusiastic encouragement for whatever we’re teaching (or learning).

Posted in Homeschooling, Potpourri | Print | 1 Comment »

January 28, 2009 by pamela ♥.

The MOTHERS ACT has been reintroduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 20 introduced Jan 6th 2009) and the U.S. Senate (S. 324 introduced Jan 26 2009).

Messages to members of Congress should be gracious, direct and to the point.

“The Mothers Act is a bill which will increase mental health screening of pregnant women and new mothers,despite the fact that the widely accepted treatment for women diagnosed with postpartum depression is antidepressant drugs — documented by the U.S. FDA to cause worsening depression, mania, psychosis, suicidal and homicidal ideation and birth defects. There is no language in the bill that would assure mothers are given non-drug options or accurate information about the subjectivity of the diagnoses (a checklist of questions) or the documented risks of psychiatric drugs. This violates informed consent and puts new mothers and their infants at risk.”

Posted in Political stuff, News DuJour, Potpourri | Print | 2 Comments »

January 19, 2009 by pamela ♥.

Blind trust is a dangerous thing sometimes.  It’s what makes us vulnerable to accepting things we’d not ordinarily accept and makes us do things we’d not ordinarily do.  Hope’s like that sometimes too.  We sometimes want something so badly that we’ll believe just about anything for that need to be met or filled.  Some will sacrifice just about anything to have deep seated longings fulfilled.

When I was six years old my mother was dating a man she would eventually marry. I so wanted to call him daddy.  We took a train to his home and we visited him.  While we were there I noticed that in one of the bedrooms of his home was a beautiful white bed with a pink canopy — the bedspread was white and the pillow had a ruffle and lace around the edge… the curtains in that room were ruffled.  I didn’t know my mother was poor until I saw that room and I didn’t know I was born to be a princess until I saw that bed.  I didn’t know we had a very limited food budget until he brought great food to our home.  I wanted him to be our daddy.  So badly.

I will never forget the great disappointment of discovering that that beautiful princess bed would not become mine, but belonged to his daughter and when my mother married him and we moved into his home that bed was no longer in the room that was to be my room.  One of my first intense brushes with reality.   It would be the first of many.  I would learn along the way that oftentimes, posers immoral men who marry a second wife have a paved road they continue to travel and that road has many intersections.  But that’s a story for another time.   (O, and about that little would-be princess? Don’t worry, I’m fine.  I’m over it. I have a canopy bed now.)

Hope will lead people to make decisions they’d not ordinarily make.  Wine or smooth speech will, too.  Infatuated women bed down with total strangers because they think in the heat of a moment that someone will love them, provide whatever they need and care for them forever — believing the lies and promises of the smooth talker.  Never giving one thought to the fact that that ‘lover’ will forget their name, not recall the night and will never fulfill the promises or remember the lies. Never giving one thought to the potential for deadly harm or physical disease.  Never giving one thought to the lifelong consequences of giving in to someone whose seductive smile lured them into the bed of future sorrow. Never giving one thought to the fact that nothing is known of the history, track-record or actual accomplishments of the one who would use and abuse and leave behind as a discarded toy.  Blind trust is a very dangerous thing… infatuation is, too.  So is hope in a poser or smooth speech fool.

What seems and what is are two very different things.

So, tomorrow’s the Inauguration ceremony for the 44th President of the United States.  I think many are looking for a daddy to believe in… a lover to romance them… a hero to save them.  Many in our land who have been seduced by the enticing words, see the beautiful canopy bed or whatever else the mirage contains and believe the king will make them princes and princesses, too.
More later.  And cream puffs?  I couldn’t think of another entry title today.

Posted in Political stuff, Potpourri | Print | 3 Comments »

January 7, 2009 by pamela ♥.

They all run together.
The following *sobering* video… not for the fainthearted.

Watch CBS Videos Online

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December 8, 2008 by pamela ♥.

Still sick… but not with the same thing - this is a new week, so I have a new bug… now the flu has come through our home and I, a gracious hostess, somehow seemed willing to host this unwelcome guest for the last couple of days.  I’m really surprised to have sickness linger… so, yeah… sick again.

Cool to have the laptop here beside the bed so I can listen to tremendous sermons while I rest.  Gotta say… Paul Washer is probably my favourite to listen to.  But some of you knew that already.  With all the religious foolishness being “preached” and all the godless movies being embraced by “believers” it’s refreshing to listen to someone who is *willing* to tell the Truth.

I’ll attempt to answer letters tomorrow - for now, have a listen:

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November 27, 2008 by pamela ♥.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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November 25, 2008 by pamela ♥.

The Thanksgiving preparations are underway at our house… the different breads have been cooked and cubed and are drying in preparation for the dressing in a couple of days.  I made cranberry relish (finely chopped cranberries, oranges and sugar) and it’s in the fridge melding.  Yep, melding… it’s the key to most all good soups and sauces (and people, too).   Next, I have put the bread ‘n butter pickles in the fridge to chill — these are the pickles I made at the end of August… mmm, mmmm, mmm!!  I got the freezer jam out of the freezer and set it in the fridge so that it’ll be ready to serve on Thursday, too.  The chickens are thawing and I’ve gathered the garlic, herbs and onions from the garden — these will go into the chickens I’ll be roasting.

Can you start to see the theme of this year’s Thanksgiving meal?  Yes - as much as possible, we’re using things that grew here on the land or that we raised here.  We didn’t grow Jello — so that Jello pretzel salad I’ll be making didn’t grow here - but the raspberries, which will be part of it, did. ;o)  I am simmering the sweet potatoes right now and they will be baked up in a casserole that our family just loves for Thanksgiving.  Here are some more helpful Thanksgiving hints from our site.

I thought I’d include a video in case you’ve never roasted a chicken *and* to show you how I am planning to prepare our chicken so that it will have a ‘traditional’ Thanksgiving taste!!  This will be the second time in thirty years that we haven’t made a turkey for Thanksgiving.  Strange.  Strange but good.  We’re doing this for many reasons - but one thing we’ve learned about making foods for Thanksgiving is long-term planning and part of this year’s long-term planning included making sure I set aside the foods we’d need for this day (and that meant canning, freezing, drying or purchasing them) but I forgot one of the main ingredients.  Yes.  The turkey.When we were in our grand chicken experiment - and all the things we had to learn along the way in raising chickens - we weren’t thinking: turkey.We were thinking: chicken and chicken tractors and waterers and all that stuff. And that was enough.  At the time.  Now, it’s Thanksgiving and I’m wondering why weren’t we thinking: t-u-r-k-e-y?

Tomorrow I’ll roast the pumpkins, puree and prepare them for pumpkin pies.  The wheat we ordered from Eastern Washington will be ground into flour… and apples from  papa’s tree will be sliced for the pies. We’ll probably only have one walnut and one hazelnut pie — using nuts from the trees here.  The squirrels sure beat us to most all the nuts this year and we weren’t gathering them as we ought to have done as they fell to the ground.  Sure reminds me of the Proverb… consider the ant…

I pray the LORD will remind me to live *in* each season preparing for the next… occupying in the moment in light of the next moment… ever mindful that actions always have consequences.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted in In the Kitchen, Family, Potpourri | Print | 3 Comments »

November 21, 2008 by pamela ♥.

  So, tell me about you.  And thus began a very long conversation.  Have you ever asked someone that?  I mean asked them and really meant to be asking the question bcz you really wanted to know — and not for information’s sake but for love - that’s all, just for love.  Well, that’s how my conversation with my cousin began. 

Just for love, that’s all. I loathe actions done for anything else. That’s been a character quality that has brought me both great peace and great anguish.  Great peace bcz I’m a what-you-see-is-what-you-get person.  Great anguish bcz what you see is not necessarily what you see — tell you why.  When you see a seemingly confident person, chances are very good that what you see is not what’s really going on.  O, you may see happy - but happy is learned, happy is a decision… you may see confidence - you may think you see a self assured person, but underneath is a very un-self-assured person.  That’s not to say that seemingly self-assured person is not confident in what they are saying - but that the person is very confident in what they’re saying but not confident being the person saying it.  So, that’s me.  Glad by choice - and not necessarily confident, but confident in what I’m saying - confident bcz God is and has been faithful and I trust in Him.

I guess it’s why I lean so heavily on the “we have this treasure in earthen vessels” verse and feel it so strongly.  It’s another reason why I tell you that line from time to time: I have no mouth and yet I must scream (good line, probably not a good book).  And… that is why two words are so totally profound to me.  Those two words are:  But God.

My cousin and I share life changing events that occurred at the same time  nearly 40 years ago.  Neither of us - probably not fully even to this day - realized how life altering those events would be.  I don’t think any of us — at the time — grasp the significance of what will later become defining moments of our lives.  It was the great collision of my life — which I believe God allowed for my good and His glory.  It was an intersection of my life and my cousin’s life.   And we talked at length about it the other night… and I cried for hours following that conversation.

In that month of August there were two deaths - the death for my cousin was the horrific suicide death of his father. It was a very sad time - crazy emotional.  The other death?  For me - was the death of innocence as I wasmolested by the man my mother was married to at the time and. is. not. now.  Death that occurs in se-ual abuse is like a shooting at point-blank range - only you never see the weapon, the wound, the trail of blood, there is no coroner summoned… and no funeral.  It’s just a quiet death. On the outside.  But I didn’t know at the time that my uncle’s death was not the only death that happened that month.  The reality of the second death that month would be drawn out for three years and then — years later — would be recognized for what it really was.  That collision in the intersection was life changing for me.

There were a lot of people in that intersection that month — it’s taken me years to look at that mental photograph and see all the faces - and longer for me to see the lives behind the faces and what that collision meant.  To us all.  And problem with blogging is - for people like me - that there’s so much to say and it’s been important for me to say it all — but I have to continually gauge the appropriateness of the telling — that’s what’s more important.  All along, this blog’s been a tool to help people see they’re not alone - it’s a place I share what God’s done with what the enemy intended evil and a place for other women to see there is freedom at the foot of the Cross.

The longer I live, the more I see that people like me have this huge need to know and be known - it’s but a part of that refusal to keep dark secrets hidden.   And there’s a –huge– difference between discreetly honouring confidences and hiding dark secrets, lies and indiscretions.

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November 10, 2008 by pamela ♥.

So,I forgot that on election night our boys had a soccer (I know, Timothy:  futbol!!) game and Sam was playing and in a close and exciting match there was a bit of fancy footwork and an ensuing fall… and he came up with a broken finger.  I attempted to call Wes so that he could take Sam to the ER - but Wes was with Hannah at the obedience school for her new dog (yes, that’s another long story!).  Well… in the midst of groaning over the very sore hand and the groaning over the election results - Wes returned home to take Samuel in to the ER - and to add to the excitement of the evening, in a play after Samuel fell - Stephen (playing goalie) was kicked in the hand and so - just for an added dimension, Wes took him along to the ER, too.  It was a bit of comic relief as several of the kids came over after the soccer game to celebrate Stephen’s birthday — yes, that was in there, too… anyway, they were eating ice cream cake and comparing injury play-by-play’s.

I know I’m sure going to miss these days someday…  Someday, I’ll be sitting here at my desk looking back… I know I’ll miss these days.

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