tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229253210956265282024-02-18T18:28:26.835-08:00ReflectionsLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-55790356861570299332016-02-02T15:41:00.001-08:002016-02-02T15:41:46.909-08:00Mourning Glenn Frey<span style="font-family: "arial";">I’ve been grief stricken since learning of Glenn Frey’s
death on January 18, 2016. I’ll be the first to say my reaction seems
irrational because I’ve always considered fans who cry over the
death of a singer or an actor a little crazy. For the love of Pete, certify me right now! I’m
still tearing up when I think about him dying. Simply put, I loved Glenn Frey.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa -1978</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">This one-sided love affair began on a Friday night in 1973 while
I was watching ABC Concert. During the show the most beautiful man I had ever
seen started singing about a peaceful easy feeling. Bam! Boom! KaPow! I was IN
LOVE!! I didn’t know who this Adonis was, but I was going to marry him. Is
anything more pure than a pre-teen girl’s love? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I discovered the handsome man’s name and became one of
the millions of fans who loved Eagles’ music and Glenn in particular. It was
tragic when news spread in 1982 Eagles were no more. How could it all be over?
Well, history shows Glenn Frey and Don Henley would continue making music and both
would have successful solo careers. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">My history shows I grew up during that time and my silly teen fantasies came to an end.
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I liked his solo work, but it was the Frey
– Henley team I found magical. So, to say 1994 was anything but an incredibly
happy year, musically speaking, would be an understatement. Glenn and Don would
do something no other American rock group seemed to be able to do. They would
reassemble the team and pick up where they left off. They were, for
lack of a better term, an anomaly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Fourteen more years would pass before I finally got to see Eagles
in concert. I may be prejudiced, but it’s the best concert I’ve ever attended
simply because it was low key and focused on the music. Glenn was older, but he
still had it. It was a dream come true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">2015 would bring them back my way, but tickets were so expensive and I
passed. As you might guess, I wish I had splurged because that was my last
opportunity to share time and space with this beloved man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">For more than 42 years Glenn Frey, prolific song writer,
gifted musician, and incredible singer, brought me indescribable joy. To call it love
may not be accurate. In truth, I don’t know if you can really love someone you've never met, but I can’t think of any other term to describe the enduring
place he holds in my heart. He's gone, but he will never be forgotten. I'll always have his
music and the memory of a hot summer night when the most handsome man with long
brown hair first sang to me; a time when we were young, full of big dreams, and
still had a lifetime to live them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaG00zRHDJY"><span style="font-size: large;">Eagles 1973 - Live on BBC</span></a>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-74740740259531894132015-03-29T13:53:00.000-07:002015-03-29T13:56:48.576-07:00Greater Love Has No One Than...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’ve been working on a Women’s Retreat and one of the
passages we will study in depth is Luke 9:23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (NIV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crux of this passage is once we say we
are followers of Jesus, we are also saying it isn’t our desires that matter,
but His.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live to be just like Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than
this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (NIV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, as a Christian I know Jesus was telling
His disciples He was about to literally die to save them, and if we say we are
His disciples, we should be willing to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I also think this verse says very
much the same thing as Luke 9:23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m
living John 15:13 and Luke 9:23, then I will deliberately think of myself less
and others more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what does “laying
one’s life down for one’s friends” really look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yesterday, I went to see Cinderella with some friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the movie ended and we were exiting the
theater, we hit a bottleneck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
until we got out of the theater I saw what had been holding us up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a feeble, old man, who looked like he
might be 90 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was moving very
slowly and hanging on to the arm of a young man I’m guessing was his
grandson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grandson was either in his
late teens or early twenties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just ahead
of them was another man, who was probably in his 40s and he looked just like
the grandson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two strapping man
had brought their dad/grandfather to see Cinderella.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the sweetest display of love I’ve ever
seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m guessing when grandpa said, “Boys, let’s go to the
movies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The younger men thought, “Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can go see something where things blow up
and everyone has guns.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had to be a
little shocking to learn Gramps wanted to see Cinderella.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a movie designed to attract the
male viewers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt they thought, “This
is the last movie I ever want to see!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or, maybe, “I’m not interested in spending my afternoon watching a girl
movie.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet there they were with
grandpa watching Cinderella.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Those guys laid down their lives for the old man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, that’s what John 15:13 is all
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the son and grandson, I saw
Jesus, and He was beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Every day, we have opportunities to deny ourselves for the
sake of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it’s giving up
our time; sometimes it’s giving up our money; and sometimes it’s doing
something we don’t really want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we lay down our lives out of love to help a family member or a friend
accomplish something of interest or importance to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jesus knew all about love and He knew those who love the
greatest are willing to sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we lay down our lives for our friends, we show how great our love is for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And others who are watching will not see us,
but will see something more beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-84561323587779197652013-04-16T18:34:00.001-07:002013-04-16T18:34:23.937-07:00Mac Powell Goes Country. Is Armageddon Next?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t know if Armageddon is next, but some people’s reaction to Mac Powell’s new country album would make you think the anti-Christ had just taken power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But, t</span>he anti-Christ is not the point of my post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is the reaction to Mac's new album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you’re unfamiliar with Mac, you may be saying, “Who’s Mac Powell and why does it matter if he made a country music album?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac is the lead singer for the Christian group Third Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it really doesn’t matter at all that he’s made a country music album, unless you are a modern day Pharisee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Now, I’ve not listened to the entire album, just the samples on Mac’s website, but as a whole, the songs appear to be light and somewhat silly, and Mac says he just wanted to have fun.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Most people seem to like the album based on the Amazon reviews, and if you liked the sound of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state>, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Allman Brothers, you’ll probably like Mac’s album too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I’m not writing a review.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m writing because Mac hasn’t committed a mortal sin in releasing a country album even though some people act like he has.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two of the reasons, I believe, so many people don’t want to become Christians are because so many Christians find it necessary to criticize other Christians publicly.and so many act like you can’t have fun and love God too. Now in writing this blog, I realize I am being critical, but I am not implying any of the reviewers have somehow turned from God. I am simply struck by the fact, we won't win people to Christ by being self-righteously critical and humorless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One reviewer on Amazon indicated Mac needed to “hold true to the calling” from God and quoted Romans 12:3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, of course, they mentioned, they weren’t going to buy the album.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my first question is why are you commenting under customer reviews?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My next question </span>is how has Mac violated his calling from God by making a solo country album?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac isn’t forsaking his Christianty to become a country star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we to conclude if God has called you to do something, you aren’t allowed to use those same talents to do anything else? </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, how does making a country album with mostly harmless lyrics mean Mac is conforming to this world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another commenter on Mac’s website posted something to the effect that “Singing for Jesus isn’t good enough?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> which just flabbergasts me. </span>Let’s see, Mac has been singing for Jesus for 20 years with Third Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just saw them in concert last week and they sang only songs for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They all appear to be the most genuine men who clearly love the Lord. </span>They even have a new album coming out in the fall that’s all about Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think Mac has stopped singing about Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, I believe Jesus probably had some fun while he was here on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he laughed, joked, and maybe even sang a top ten 30 AD song or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples in their accounts of Jesus were more concerned about telling who Jesus was and why it was important to follow him than they were at giving us an in depth look at Jesus’ personality. I understand that was the most important thing to do. But I feel certain he had a sense of humor, and that even Jesus liked to have fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, so many people want to mold him into a humorless and morose one-dimensional character, and then wonder why people don’t want to follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another person commented on the comment of the person who thinks Mac needs to stick to his calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This person thinks the song “Saturday Night” is promoting willful sin and makes people think the reason you go to church is because you want to get forgiveness for living wrong, which makes lost people think Christians are no different than they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In defense of this person, the lyrics do say, “Trying to find forgiveness for what I did Saturday night.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I can see this person’s point and maybe Mac could have put it differently, but at the same time, if you’ve done something you shouldn’t have done, going to church and asking for forgiveness isn’t really a bad thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac doesn't spell out for us what he needs forgiveness for, but if I were going to give the song a rating, it still would be “G” rated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the end, I agree most with the reviewer who thinks Mac’s country album might reach a whole different audience for the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it; you’re a lost person and you just happen to love country music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hear a new song by a guy named Mac Powell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You decide to find out more about Mac Powell and you discover he’s the lead singer for a group called Third Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Y</span>ou like Mac’s sound, so you decide you’ll check out Third Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you’re listening to Third Day, you hear something that makes you think about what kind of relationship you have with God, and suddenly you’re convicted you need to have a relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, so one lost person accepts Jesus and starts living a God honoring life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Mac’s done a service for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I could be wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe God will be very upset that a lost person came to know Him by first listening to a country music song by a guy who makes a living singing Christian music. But, I don't think so because Jesus didn't hang out with the Pharisees. Jesus hung out with the sinners because the super, pious were to self-righteous to see him for who he really was, and the sinners knew he was the only hope they had. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;">So what is my take away? I want to shut my mouth when I feel the need to criticize a fellow brother or sister in Christ for something I don't think they should have done. I want to reflect Christ in how I treat everyone and if what I have to say doesn't show his love, then I don't want to say it. </span></o:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In conclusion, the lyrics I heard are all “G” rated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac doesn’t mention going to the bar, drinking until he can’t stand up, starting a brawl, or cheating on his wife with the woman next door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does sing about loving someone forever, holding someone’s hand, and feeling really stupid for acting like a fool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless his heart; it looks like he was just trying to have fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I will hope for the sake of all those who are highly offended by Mac’s country album that when they get to heaven they are not required to attend a Heavenly Hoe-Down every Saturday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, if they are, do you think these super holy saints will ask to leave? </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Nope, I think they’ll grab their partner and happily do-si-do around the throne of God.</span></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-56081279019767469842012-04-24T17:52:00.000-07:002012-04-24T17:52:24.479-07:00The Firefighter Challenge<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past Saturday night I attended a fundraiser involving firefighters from across the state. It was a blast and the firefighters were all good sports and seemed to be the most genuine people. Throughout the evening, we attendees treated these guys and one gal as if they were celebrities. We were getting their autographs and having our pictures made with them as if they were famous movie stars. For that night, they received admiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It wasn't until the next day I realized the significance of the event. The right people were treated like heroes. We freely give our adoration to movie stars, rock stars, and athletes, and so many of them really don't deserve it. But all across our country, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other civil servants risk their lives for us, and we take them for granted. Rarely, do we think of them as superstars. But, they are the real superstars. They are the people who will risk their lives for you and me - people they don't even know. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13, NLT) These men and women who would die to save us deserve our admiration and adoration every day not just at a special event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, I want to challenge you to make May "Firefighter Appreciation" month. Take the time to send a note to your local fire department or fire house and say thanks. I believe the guys I met Saturday would really appreciate it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you take the challenge, let me know. I'd like to know about it.</span><br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-26325499234188502382012-04-02T19:28:00.000-07:002016-02-07T11:32:52.437-08:00Mercy Triumphs<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I completed a Beth Moore study entitled <em>Mercy Triumphs</em>. It was about the life of James, the brother of Jesus. My prayer at the beginning of the study was to be a different person when I finished and I believe I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">The title came from James 2:13 (HCSB), "For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn't shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." The NLT version says, "There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." Wow! I see the big target across my chest, and I felt the piercing arrow of God's conviction when I read it. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> You see, there was someone I needed to show mercy and it was long over due.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Five years ago, I had a friend I believed would be a friend for life. That is until romance happened. My friend had never had a romantic relationship before, and to say she completely lost her mind is an understatement. We had been friends for eight years, and suddenly, I was expendable. She was a part of a couple now, and we all know about the universal law that says if you are part of a couple, your single friends are no longer necessary. I mean, what does a woman, who now has a partner, have in common with a single woman?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Over the course of six months, she went from ignoring me to carefully planning ways she could hurt me. She didn't feel compelled to maintain our relationship, but I wasn't supposed to go on with my life. I was supposed to sit at home and wait to see if her romance worked out, and if by chance it didn't then we could pick up where we left off. When other friends tried to intervene, they too found themselves on the wrong side. They were supposed to hate me because she hated me now. Within a year, she had alienated all of her closest friends. She made one weak attempt at an apology, which went something like this: "I'm sorry I hurt you, but we both did things we shouldn't have done." I confess I didn't feel gracious and mercy didn't triumph. I walked away deeply wounded and began working through the stages of grief over this lost relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">It took a long time to forgive her, and an even longer time to be willing to show mercy, but God didn't let up. He kept working on me until I started to feel more compassion toward her. Just after Easter last year, I sent her a card and explained how much she meant to me, why I had walked away, and apologized if I had hurt her. I felt better even though I didn't truly feel I owed her an apology. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">God wasn't finished yet. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">By Christmas, I had reached a point to where I felt I could actually be friends with her again, and in my Christmas card to her, I wrote how it would be great to see her. She didn't respond, but I didn't really expect her to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then, I started the study of James. I realized, I needed to show her mercy. First, because that's what Jesus would do, but secondly, mercy would free me. As I thought about this, I realized that while my life had gone on, and I had been blessed with two new friends that I so enjoy being around, I still had room in my heart for my old friend. I didn't trust her not to hurt me again, but I was willing to take that chance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">So, I began inviting her to things. I invited her to a movie we showed at church. She didn't respond. Next, I invited her to join me and my friends for dinner. The last invitation was the key. As soon as I sent the email to her, I felt something inside that I can only describe as God's happiness with me. I found myself smiling because I felt as if God were smiling, and it felt good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Several days passed and then I got an email from her. She thanked me for the invitations, but indicated she wasn't interested in renewing our friendship. She didn't want to be hurt again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I felt some sadness, but no anger or bitterness. I emailed her and thanked her for responding and letting me know how she felt. I said I understood because I knew how hard it would be to rebuild the trust we once had. I said I was disappointed, but I would look forward to renewing our friendship when we both reached Glory. I closed by saying I knew God was fond of her and so was I, and if she ever changed her mind I would consider it a beautiful thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Perhaps, she will change her mind some day. I doubt it. But, this showing mercy wasn't really about her at all. It was about being obedient. It was about being like Jesus. It was about giving someone something they hadn't earned. She deserved my mercy because God showed me mercy. She deserved grace because God showed me grace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">By allowing mercy to triumph over judgment, I set myself free. Something God knew would happen the minute I could say I will show you mercy.</span><br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-66746644672899613982012-04-01T20:11:00.001-07:002012-04-01T20:13:12.040-07:00Living on the Periphery<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For most of my life I've felt like a person on the periphery. Webster defines the periphery as "the outermost region or part within a precise boundary or perimeter." Peripheral refers to the visual field and of course means "being on the outer area of the visual field." It may seem odd to think of oneself as only a peripheral, but it's an accurate description for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Sometimes I've chosen to be on the periphery. Trusting people isn't always easy. After experiencing emotional pain and hurt from others, it's harder to put myself out there again. Still, other times, I believe others have put me in the periphery. I'm allowed in to a certain degree, but not into the inner circle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Being a periphery person is a struggle because like most people I want to be a part of things. I want to be a part of the inner circle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've been reminded recently of how we can place people on the periphery without even realizing that we have. At the first of the year I started attending a Christian women's class, and I truly believe these ladies are for real. But, immediately I was placed in the periphery because I didn't "join" the class. Members are put into small groups so they can get to know other members in more social type settings. There was a lively discussion as to what to do with me since I hadn't "joined" the class and the conclusion was I wouldn't be placed in a small group until I joined. Obviously, as a "visitor" I wouldn't want to get to know other class members, and obviously they don't want to get to know me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And then I'm left wondering why we Christians make it so hard for people to fellowship with us? Jesus <span style="background-color: white;">accepted all who came to Him.</span> He accepted them as they were. All a person had to say to enjoy all Jesus had to offer was I believe you are my savior. And all the riches of heaven became available for that person. Jesus didn't put people on the periphery then, and He doesn't do it now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Having been reminded of how disheartening it is to be placed in the periphery, I've made a resolution to do everything I can to keep people from feeling like I do right now. I believe Christians would make a greater impact for the Kingdom of Heaven if we could just love people where they are and for who they are without expecting them to become something else in order to be allowed into the inner circle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If we could love like Jesus, no one would ever have to be in the periphery again.</span><br />
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</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-34447075429999393182012-02-14T11:59:00.000-08:002012-02-14T11:59:24.365-08:00Friendship, Loyalty and Love<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've had this post written for weeks and was saving it for Valentine's Day. It seemed the perfect time to post it, but it actually reflects a commitment I made at the first of the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My only New Year's resolution for 2012 is to know and love Jesus more at the end of the year than I did at the beginning. At the end of February, I will finish reading the Bible in one year. I have found things I never noticed before, but the reality is, I've read it, not really spent time reflecting on what I've read. So, I've decided when I finish the Read the Bible in a Year Challenge, I'm going to focus on the gospels so I can focus only on Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To help me in my quest, I have a visual reminder. For the last 17 years I've worn a Claddagh ring on my right hand. The claddagh is a traditional Irish ring made up of a crown, a heart, and two hands.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcSuGe5C24RqqRGPL1G_ny-Loj0LVRJdoGLXASqWfCgYi49zEOUlSQf-USZYYtshta3oLIBwL_rENhgCni_M4Q_ZUPvQrDoZ2bapS7U_Cn6GcP9CGd6yXoCGvwBTUW87kE_iknwIWe_0/s1600/ring+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcSuGe5C24RqqRGPL1G_ny-Loj0LVRJdoGLXASqWfCgYi49zEOUlSQf-USZYYtshta3oLIBwL_rENhgCni_M4Q_ZUPvQrDoZ2bapS7U_Cn6GcP9CGd6yXoCGvwBTUW87kE_iknwIWe_0/s200/ring+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The crown represents loyalty; the heart, love; and the hands, friendship. Friendship, loyalty, and love - three things that must be present for a relationship to be meaningful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The claddagh can be worn on the right hand with the heart facing out if the person's heart is still available. If the person becomes involved in a relationship, she will turn the ring so the heart faces toward her. Some people will use the claddagh as a wedding ring, and naturally they will wear it on their left hand with the heart facing toward them. This is a sign of true commitment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On January 1, I moved my claddagh from my right hand to my left with the heart facing toward me to indicate the commitment I've made to do what it takes to be more in love with Jesus on December 31, 2012, than I've ever been in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm sure some people may think it's crazy or creepy, but I think it makes me more accountable. If Jesus is my true love, then I should be showing it every day. When I put my ring on in the morning, I think of Him because I know why I'm putting it on my left hand. When I take it off at night, I'm reminded again of why the ring is there. And, anytime I look down and catch a glimpse of it, I'm reminded to think about who He is and the commitment I've made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jesus wants my friendship. I don't have to be the smartest, prettiest, or most popular girl to have His attention. He is completely loyal to me. I may prove unfaithful and turn from Him, but He's always waiting for me to return. He loves me despite everything I've ever done or will ever do. He is the only one who will always be a true friend. His loyalty will never falter. He is the only one I am absolutely sure will always love me. Jesus, His love never fails me, and His love won't fail you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Apparently, for some people, it does. In fact, for some it seems they've lost their grips on reality. They've forgotten it's just a stupid game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The 49ers loss came as a result of a few major bungles by Kyle Williams. My dad watched the game and he said "you should have seen his face when the Giants' player flipped the ball out of his hands." I can only imagine how he must have felt. I can only imagine the pressure one feels when thousands of people are watching you from the stands and millions on television as you fail at what you're trying to accomplish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And if failing publicly isn't bad enough, then you're subjected to the vehement anger of some of your fans. In fact, you receive the following Tweet:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">@KyleWilliams_10. "I hope you, youre wife, your kids and family die, you deserve it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Really? You fumble a ball twice and you and you're entire family deserve death?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This begs me to ask the age old question: What is wrong with our society that anyone would think this is an appropriate message to send to another human being over the loss of a game? A game - people! It's beyond me that such hate can spew forth over a game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My questions for this hate-monger are: Are you perfect? (Obviously not since the Tweet had misspelled words and run-on sentences.) Have you never made a big mistake...really messed up? Did this loss personally affect you? In a week, a month, or a year, are you going to be negatively impacted because the 49ers lost? Did it make you feel better to wish for the death of other humans over a game?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I don't know Kyle Williams and never will, but I feel such sadness for him. How terrible it must have been to receive a message of such hate. If I Tweeted, I'd have to send him a message that said, "I'm sorry people are so hateful. You're a great player, and the 49ers played a great game. Obviously, Satan has complete control of the person who sent you such a message. Prayers to you and your family during this trying time."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Bible says there is no place in heaven for people who can't control their anger or who hate others. So, I'll pray that the horrible person who sent this awful message finds Jesus before it's too late. If not, this person has more to worry about than a football game.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-56097898203063213272011-12-31T12:34:00.000-08:002011-12-31T12:34:56.634-08:00I Dreamed A Dream<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another year is ending. It seems impossible to me that it is December 31, 2011. Wasn't it just yesterday that I rang in the new year...a year full of hope, and now it's over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For the last several years I've written a letter on New Year's Eve. In my letter, I write all of my hopes and dream for the upcoming year. Always included in the letter is a hope for good health for my family, friends, and myself. For the most part, this was a good year. Except for the death of my cousin, there was little sadness from losing someone special.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I always list things I'm grateful for as well, which is really good to read at the end of the year. This year, I'm still grateful for the things I listed a year ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There was one bitter disappointment though - my book. The book I spent years writing. The book no agent would represent. The book that for now is laid aside. The book that was my big dream for 2011.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tonight just before midnight I'll write another letter, which I will seal and mark to open on December 31, 2012. I'll stick it in my special drawer where it will remain for the next year. In it will be new a new dream. But for today, I am saying goodbye to the dream for 2011, and what better way than to do it with a song. Okay, the song may really be about the lost dream of true love, but a dream is a dream and sometimes as the song ends life does kill our dream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The dream for 2011 has died, but the dream for 2012 is about to begin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy New Year!</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-78092215282762374842011-12-25T05:33:00.000-08:002011-12-25T05:33:05.695-08:00The Baby Arrived<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our pastor has mentioned several times over the last few weeks about the baby born to die. This baby is the reason we celebrate Christmas. People want to make Christmas into just another holiday, but how can the day set aside to remember that God came to us be just another holiday?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This baby, the King of kings, came gently, born in a manger where cattle and sheep were kept. His birth was announced to the lowliest of people, the shepherds tending their flocks. This baby born to die came for the weak and lowly, the down-trodden and poor, for every man, woman and child, who believes He is the Son of God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The world may one day keep those of us who call ourselves Christians from being able to say Merry Christmas, display a Nativity, or even speak the name of Jesus aloud, but the world cannot change what happened the day the baby born to die filled the world with unquenchable light. This baby, Jesus, was destined from birth to die a horrible, humiliating death so all who believe might live. Nothing can change this immutable fact.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love came gently, and it still comes today for all who trust in that little baby born to die. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Merry Christmas and may God bless you this coming year.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-46726216954921616152011-12-24T13:20:00.000-08:002011-12-24T13:20:25.876-08:00The Light Was Coming<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was approximately 2000 years ago and "The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone was coming into the world." No one really understood the significance of what was about to happen. Prophecies had predicted a king was coming; a king who would save Israel. In their small human minds, the people imagined this king was coming to deliver them from the Romans. They were, afterall, God's chosen people; people not in need of anything but an earthly, conquering king. But God had a different plan and something more marvelous than earthly liberation. And the Light was coming "into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Light that shines in the darkness, which can never be extinguished by the darkness was coming to His own people, but they were in darkness and liked the darkness and would reject Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Light was coming to become human and make His home among us. He would be full of unfailing love and faithfulness. He would be born in a manger and live an ordinary life until His final three years on earth. Ordinary, but Extraordinary, the Father's one and only Son.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Light was coming to reveal God to us. The Light was coming so that all of us who believe and accept Him are joint heirs to His kingdom - the kingdom of God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Light was coming and according to Isaiah "the people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the Light will shine on them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Light was coming, the bright morning star, was coming. Can you feel the excitement? This is what Christmas is all about - the Light about to pierce the darkness on the most holiest of nights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">John 1:1-16 and Isaiah 9:2</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-59034259461010478992011-12-03T13:23:00.000-08:002011-12-03T13:23:51.218-08:00Working for the Kingdom until You’re Flat Worn Out<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the last few years and especially since beginning the Radical Experiment earlier this year, I’ve tried to do more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried to give more, to spend more time in bible study, and to be more involved with ministries at church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve reached a point to where if I’m not volunteering every time we have something at church I feel guilty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, today was our annual Christmas store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is such a wonderful thing our church does, and in years past I’ve worked in one of the rooms where the kids wait while their parents shop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy being with the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while I gave toys this year, I didn’t give my time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve wrestled with the decision not to work all week. It has, in fact, caused me great angst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I got up this morning after sleeping in, I still was feeling like I should have volunteered, and then I read the daily devotion by Charles Stanley. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise the Lord for Dr. Stanley because the message he had for today eased my troubled soul. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s an excerpt</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I remember lying in a hospital bed years ago and coming to the realization that I was there because Jesus wasn't the Lord of my life. If anyone happened to be observing my life back then, it probably appeared that I was serving Him with every ounce of my being. I was overloaded with projects and plans for good Kingdom work. But that was actually the problem. When God told me to stop, slow down, or do something different than I had planned, I kept right on going. Flat on my back in the hospital, I finally remained still long enough for the Lord to remind me that only He could direct my path (Jer. 10:23).”*</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday is the only day I get to rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes I really need the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sleep poorly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard for me to go to sleep and when I finally do I’m usually awake about every two hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seems to run in the family and even sleeping aids don’t work like they should. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, I am physically tired most of the time simply from lack of sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the week I have to push myself to go because I do have to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And most weeks I have at least one or two nights I’m at the church for a meeting or choir practice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, on Saturday I can sleep until I’m ready to get up and it helps to catch up on some of the sleep I’ve missed all week.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After reading Dr. Stanley’s devotion, I decided God does expect us to rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think He’s pleased by what I do, and I also believe He doesn’t expect me to do everything that needs to be done. So, if you’re like me and you give it all you have to give, don’t feel guilty when you feel you really need to rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows your heart and He knows your physical limitations.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch.org, 2011.</span></span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-19802917778348801392011-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:002011-12-01T17:16:27.982-08:00Especially Fond of You<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I finally read <em>The Shack</em>. It's a controversial book many see as blasphemous because of how God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are portrayed. God says we are made in His image, so I suppose He could look like any one of us. I just can't imagine what He looks like, but the author of the book decided God would appear as a black "mammy" type character who is always in the kitchen cooking up some super delicious food. There's a reason God chose this human image, but in case you haven't read the book and want to I won't give the reason away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jesus is a carpenter and comes across as somewhat like a lovable good ole "bubba." Finally, the Holy Spirit is an Asian woman, who is shimmery and fades in and out like she's moving between dimensions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">One reviewer of the book thought the characters were buffoonish. Perhaps a little, but it is a work of fiction, and who can say that God wouldn't do something just like this especially if He has a sense of humor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The key to the book is the message - God is especially fond of His creation - us. He tells the main character, "I'm especially fond of you." He tells the main character he's especially fond of the man's daughter. He sends a message by the main character for his best friend - "He's especially fond of you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The bible tells us God loves us so much He sent His only son to save us. As Christmas approaches, I'm going to try to focus on God's love. God so loved me He sent His son to give me the greatest gift I will ever receive - eternal life. Through Jesus He showed He is especially fond of me. And whether you believe it or not, He's especially fond of you too.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-86887577411134729252011-11-01T18:27:00.000-07:002011-11-01T18:27:25.837-07:00Redeeming Love<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been months since I've posted anything. I hope to do better in the future, if for no other reason than I made a promise, which I haven't followed through on since making it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I recently read a novel called <strong>Redeeming Love</strong> by Francine Rivers. It's one of the best books I've ever read. The novel is set in California during the gold rush years and is a beautiful love story based on the book of Hosea from the Bible. Though it's a love story between a man and a woman, just as Hosea is, it's also the redeeming love story of God and us, again just as Hosea is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The reason I say this is one of the best books I've read is because it's stayed with me. The lead male character, Michael Hosea, has almost complete unwavering faith. He's what a Christian should be, and that's what I keep going back to when I think about the book. I've never read a book where I wanted to be like the character, but I want to be a Michael Hosea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The lead female character is Sarah, a prostitute, who uses the name Angel. She's a broken individual, who has never been able to see God in her life. Because of the terrible things that have happened to her since childhood, she can't fathom what real love is - not from God and not from a man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just as in the book of Hosea, Michael seeks Angel because God has told him she's the woman he is to marry. He can't believe God wants him to marry a prostitute, but he has always done what God has told him to do and he marries her. Repeatedly, Angel betrays his love and each time he forgives her. His brother-in-law also betrays him and Michael forgives him too. He forgives because God tells him to be forgiving. Michael gets what God is all about, and he gets what love is all about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are four key things about Michael that exemplify what a Christian should be...things all Christians should emulate.</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He reads God's word and lives what he reads.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He prays for God's wisdom and guidance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He listens for God's guidance and follows whatever God tells him to do. He doesn't have to understand why God is telling him to do it; he does it because God tells him to do it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He always comes back to God. He might be angry with God. He might stop praying and reading God's word for a short season, but he always returns with a deeper understanding of God's redeeming love.</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Michael Hosea is a role model for any Christian who truly wants to be a man or woman after God's heart. Both love stories, Michael's love for Sarah, and Michael's love for God are the purest examples of true love you will ever see in a work of fiction. </span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-15983281363510775812011-08-28T19:24:00.000-07:002011-08-28T19:24:14.104-07:00Another Sad Goodbye<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This has been the year for goodbyes. In March, we <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXUuhM7QnrM-6CIYw6Uwkmewidf456Fyf2uNeEJrai-49kWbsUgRRgKJkSEMK3cQn3MLDgkN8UUeouPguhPt9tdo9akS6Lt7-adP7M16jT_xC1zseIwNQZoKwS9Qm7m2me5TjjwbcuT4/s1600/Dakota+09+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXUuhM7QnrM-6CIYw6Uwkmewidf456Fyf2uNeEJrai-49kWbsUgRRgKJkSEMK3cQn3MLDgkN8UUeouPguhPt9tdo9akS6Lt7-adP7M16jT_xC1zseIwNQZoKwS9Qm7m2me5TjjwbcuT4/s320/Dakota+09+108.jpg" width="320" /></a>had to say goodbye to our youth pastor and his family and now we're saying goodbye to our music minister. To say, I will miss Dave is an understatement. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dave has led our choir for over four years and he's just a super guy. He has many outstanding qualities, but I'm going to just hit the top three or four.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">First, he loves the Lord and he lives his faith. There isn't any doubt in my mind he is a true Christian and people can see this through his worship, works, and willingness to share his faith with others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Second, Dave loves his family. We've been able to see the love he has for his wife and for his two children. And, we've seen how they love him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Third, Dave loves music...all kinds of worship music and he brought a vibrancy to our church we had been lacking for a long time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally, Dave believes in people. He gave many of us the opportunity to sing, which we hadn't had before. He made me feel I had something to offer and most of the solos I've done have been because I felt his support for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Okay, I must add one more thing. Dave loved the movie <em>The Lonesome Dove. </em>I believe he can quote the entire movie. All you have to do is name a scene and he can do all the parts. It's amazing. Dave is like Woodrow Call in the movie...once he gives his word he follows through. So, as a tribute to Dave, I'm including Scene 11 from Part Four of the Lonesome Dove. It's about being true to your word, and saying goodbye to a beloved friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">God bless you and your family, Dave, as you start this new and exciting venture for the Lord.</span><br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXUuhM7QnrM-6CIYw6Uwkmewidf456Fyf2uNeEJrai-49kWbsUgRRgKJkSEMK3cQn3MLDgkN8UUeouPguhPt9tdo9akS6Lt7-adP7M16jT_xC1zseIwNQZoKwS9Qm7m2me5TjjwbcuT4/s1600/Dakota+09+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9a1QcWDpdNw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-7205420609217149062011-08-19T16:37:00.000-07:002011-08-19T16:37:24.522-07:00Just Like Solomon<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you've read my earlier blog posts, you know I'm doing the Radical Experiment this year. And, one of the challenges is to read the Bible daily. Technically, I've only failed to meet that challenge twice since March 1. Technically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">About a week ago, I was reading in 1 Kings, chapter 11 about the end of Solomon's life. The wisest man who ever lived believed in God, but he let his multiple wives negatively influence him. Before Solomon died, he was worshipping other gods. As I read the passages, I thought how unwise he had been. He was the wisest man alive - didn't he know better?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All the while I'm reading I'm trying to hurry through the passages so I can move on to something I wanted to do. The reading that night was unusually long, and I thought about mid-way through, "I'm not getting anything out of this because I'm trying to hurry. I don't want to be doing this." Still, I finished it and went on to the thing I wanted to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The next morning as I showered it was like God thumped me on the head and said, "Is there anything in there? You have Solomon to learn from, but have you?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All I could say is, "You're right, Lord. I have other gods too, and last night I chose to make time for the other gods instead of You. I felt perturbed at the time I spent with You. Forgive me. I'm just like Solomon. Not in wisdom, but in my rebellion."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And so, I've thought about the wonder of God for the last week, and I'm thankful He even bothered to set me straight. But, that's what a loving Father does, right?</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-32056826027708653492011-07-29T17:23:00.000-07:002011-07-29T17:23:02.157-07:00Is Dying On A Cross Funny?<div style="color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I was searching for a card at Wal-Mart. I take my time and like to browse and read a variety of cards. I always end up in the funny section and if you find me there, you'll usually hear me first, laughing out loud.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I pulled several cards, I noticed one with two nuns on the cover. The caption read, "The Lord died for your sins." At this point I'm trying to determine what part of that is something to laugh at, but I decided to see what was on the inside anyway. The inside read, "So, you may as well enjoy them. Happy Birthday."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To say I was stunned and appalled would be an understatement. I was both and offended to boot. The Lord dying for my sins isn't funny and thinking I should live a sinful life and enjoy doing so is doubly unfunny.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I flipped the card over to see who produced this jewel. The company was listed as Comic Relief - Recycled Paper Greetings. Once home, I did a quick web search and made another startling discovery. RPG is owned by American Greetings. I felt such disappointment because I had such high regard for American Greetings. I never would have expected them to produce such a blasphemous product. A little more reseach showed AG purchased RPG in 2009, so it's not like they haven't had time to pull trashy cards. In addition, I found other people didn't appreciate the RPG cards either, though none named any one card in particular.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is this card not funny?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, it makes fun of someone who died for others. If I'm wrong in my faith, it still doesn't change the fact that Jesus died for a cause. A cause that didn't hurt others, just Himself. Whether you're a Christian or not, is it really funny to ridicule someone who would willing die to save other people? Do the RPG people bust out in a belly laugh when they read about a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save his comrades? If someone takes a bullet for someone else, does that cause one to roar with laughter? I don't find anything funny about anyone dying to save another human being.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second, if I'm right in my beliefs and Jesus is the Son of God, then He and God are being mocked for having made the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus died to save undeserving people like the knuckleheads who created and published this card.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't written AG, but I'm still thinking about it. However, I have decided I will not purchase any more AG or AG affiliate products ever again. Some things aren't comedic, and however small my contribution to AG's bottom line has been, I don't want any more of my money going to a company that has so little respect for the God of the Universe. Dying on a cross isn't funny.</span></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-64056264473628085992011-07-26T18:57:00.000-07:002011-07-26T18:57:19.507-07:00Someone Worth Dying For<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Am I someone worth dying for? Are you? I recently discovered the Christian group, Mikeschair, and their song <em>Someone Worth Dying For</em>. I was immediately taken with the song and downloaded it from I-Tunes. It's caused me to pause and ponder the first question I posed - Am I really someone worth dying for? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To be blunt, most of the time I think I'm not. In fact, it's safe for me to say Jesus definitely got the short end of the stick where I'm concerned. I'm completely unworthy of the kind of love He has for me. He doesn't get the same kind of love in return from me, and He should.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The gist of the song is people wonder if they are worth dying for, and Jesus is always telling us to see it and believe we are worth it. He didn't have to do it. We didn't deserve the grace offered to us, but He loved us so much He thought we deserved all He had to give. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:14-16)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a human, I am weak. I fail. I sin. And because I am a Christian, I beat myself up over and over again for not being able to do the things I should do. And, if I really search deep within, I know if the situation were reversed I wouldn't die for me. Sounds depressing and hopeless, but it's not. I'm not worthy because of what I've done. I'm worthy because of who Jesus is. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This past Sunday, our pastor, who is brilliant, yet understandable, preached on how Christians should be the light. He preached from John 8:12-30 in the morning service and Matthew 5:13-16. In the morning, we saw how Jesus is the Light of the World. In the evening, we saw how Jesus tells us to be light. Wyman said this wonderfully simple, but profound statement, "God said let there be light in the world. Jesus said let there be light in you!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the song, Mikeschair sings, "Your life has purpose." And according to Wyman, our purpose is to be the light in the darkness. More correctly, it is to be the conduit for Jesus' light to shine to the world. Our lives should so affect those around us, our very culture, that things are better for us being in the world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Is the world better for me being in it? Can others see the Light of the World reflected through me by my behavior and by how I treat others? I'm a work in progress. I take two steps forward and one-and-a-half back most days, but I keep trying to move forward. I keep striving to be worthy of Jesus having given His life for me. In some small measure, I am finally doing things I believe show others how much Jesus loves them because of how I love them. I'm not bragging because I could do so much more, be so much more, love so much more. But, success for me has changed over the last year. Yes, I still want to be successful in this world, but it's more important for me to be successful for Christ. I want to live a life where Jesus would say, "Others saw my love for them through you. Others knew how much I loved them because of the things you did. They learned from you they were worth me dying for, and I'm pleased by that." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the end, success is hearing Jesus say, "Lisa, even when you messed up big time, even in your ugliest, darkest, most unloving moments, I always believed you were someone worth dying for."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Jesus wants you to see and believe that no matter what you've done or where you are right now, you are the most precious person to Him. You are someone worth dying for.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtBfTfgeb4A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-65552042194929273362011-07-20T18:33:00.000-07:002011-07-20T18:33:17.817-07:00Nurturing New Christians<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night I had something happen that I've not had happen before. Someone other than a personal friend commented on one of my posts. This person indicated he/she was a new Christian and had been reading my posts. My reader had several questions for me, which I did my best to answer, but in reality probably didn't shed a whole lot of light on the situation. The questions were good ones, and this experience has been humbling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I read the Bible and attend church regularly, but Bible verses don't seem to pop to mind when I need them. One of the questions I was asked was about salvation: Once you've accepted Jesus were you saved forever or could you lose your salvation and have to be re-saved? My answer was there are those who believe in eternal security and those who believe it's possible to lose your salvation. It depends on the denomination you happen to follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I feel secure in my salvation, but I have been a part of a church that didn't believe in eternal security and did believe people could reject Christ after having accepted Him as their Savior. I must admit I still think God has given us free will and we could say I want no more to do with You or Jesus and if we did this we would reject Christ and be lost. My conculsion for my reader was I couldn't imagine I would ever reject Jesus knowing what He has done for me, which would suggest I believe in eternal security.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Whatever you personally believe about salvation, there are scriptures to support both arguments and it really is up to the individual to decide what is the right interpretation. I will say I don't believe you have to be re-saved every time you stumble, but you do have to repent. The life of David really teaches us that forgiveness is there for us if we truly repent - no matter what we've done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've made a promise to this reader to research the scriptures to find things that can help nuture their walk. And I would also like to suggest to this person (if you're reading this post) to visit the website of Dr. Charles Stanley. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">His website is <a href="http://www.intouch.org/">http://www.intouch.org/</a>. He is THE MAN when it comes to understanding the Bible and covering the subjects that strengthen us as Christians.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dr. Stanley offers many articles, sermons, and Bible studies that are available for anyone to read or listen to Here's a sampling of some of the articles he's written:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Covered by Grace...Free to Sin?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Price of Walking Away</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The God of Second Chances</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Developing Spiritual Discernment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">To Believe or Not to Believe</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Our Forgiving Father</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When the Bible is Silent</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">What is Genuine Repentance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When Temptation Knocks</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All of these look like they could answer questions for a new Christian. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the next few weeks, I will try to post more frequently and look for scripture and other resources that might be helpful for a new Christian. I believe God is faithful and He has promised if we seek Him, we will find Him. He's right there waiting.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-44956939126900017352011-06-30T18:10:00.000-07:002011-06-30T18:10:43.852-07:00As If There Is All The Time in The World To Say I Love You<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as we may not want to admit it, we do have relatives we love more than others. It's not that we don't love all our relatives, but some just have special places in our hearts. Two of my favorite cousins (I have three by the way) always lived away. Growing up they lived in Oregon and could only come back here every couple of years. I remember as a child, Mom would say, "Randy and Julie are coming," and I would be so excited. I couldn't wait until they got here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We would meet at my grandmother's house in the sprawling metropolis of Jerusalem, Arkansas. They were usually here in Arkansas for two or three weeks and we would have the best time. Once we decided to explore the back roads of Jerusalem and walked for hours before we finally found a familiar landmark. The problem was we were still hours from my grandmother's house and exhausted. Thankfully, another cousin of ours (by marriage) came along and took us home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those were great times, but then we all grew up and started pursuing our adult lives and as it happens, we drifted apart. I can't remember the last time I saw or even heard from Julie, but I think it's close to 20 years, now. It was 14 years ago in April since I last saw Randy when he visited me before moving back to California. He'd been in Oklahoma and we actually communicated some that year, but then he moved away again and we lost touch until last Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the last five or six years, Randy has suffered from kidney failure and has been on dialysis. At the same time, he has been having heart problems, which steadily worsened over the last two years. I worried for him, thought of him often, and told myself I needed to write, but it wasn't until the card came that I finally did write. It took me two months, but I answered his card telling him like he had me that I thought of him often and remembered all the good times we had as kids. I gave him my email and said I was much better at keeping in touch by email.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the last month or so, Randy's health has deteriorated even more and within the last few weeks, I've had that nagging feeling I needed to write him again and tell him how much he means to me. Of course, I would be somewhere or doing something that didn't lend itself to writing and so I'd tell myself I'd do it soon. If I hear he's still declining, I'll do it. I told myself again Sunday, I need to write him...I'll do it. And Sunday, I had all the time in the world to tell him I loved him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Randy died this morning. And suddenly as I heard mom telling me over the phone right after lunch today, I realized even on Sunday, there was no more time left to write Randy and tell him what he had meant to me. I cried in my office all afternoon because I loved my cousin even if we had barely communicated in the last 14 years, and I cried because of regret for not staying in touch when I knew he was really sick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, I'm writing this post today to remind anyone who reads it to not act as if you have all the time in the world to let the people you love know how you feel about them. You have right now, so don't put it off. Time may be up for you or the person you long to tell one last time, "You were so special to me. I love you, cousin."</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-42538805511686701502011-06-25T19:01:00.000-07:002011-06-25T19:01:08.420-07:00Arrogance and the Defeat of Custer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIz_Ww9GLFUOctijRrS1J4uJ1-LJplrTnh53KtChZ3PIsenT90gidZB9R355t-RtTYzAMERCDQ7k5iiRrZXxlG9XKSnneFzDT0o7emBh7DpQ-oesXnPyvC2FiPtHxvBdJJgXxQs1hXQRM/s1600/LBH6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIz_Ww9GLFUOctijRrS1J4uJ1-LJplrTnh53KtChZ3PIsenT90gidZB9R355t-RtTYzAMERCDQ7k5iiRrZXxlG9XKSnneFzDT0o7emBh7DpQ-oesXnPyvC2FiPtHxvBdJJgXxQs1hXQRM/s320/LBH6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, is the anniversary of the Greasy Grass Fight or as you may have heard it called the Battle of Little Bighorn. On this day in 1876, the 7th Cavalry led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was utterly defeated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Three forces led by Crook, Gibbon, and Custer were dispatched to bring about the defeat of the Lakota. The US Army thought it could trap the Indians and end the Indian problem. However, Custer made a series of errors, which turned the table.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">First, he advanced more quickly than he was ordered to do. Gibbon was leading the infantry brigade and was advancing very slowly. Crook had been turned back by Crazy Horse and his band at Rosebud Creek. So, by moving too quickly, Custer had placed himself in an isolated position. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Second, he had grossly underestimated the number of Indians in the village he was attacking. The Lakota had been joined by the Cheyenne and Arapaho and there were thousands of Indians gathered there.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Third, he had no respect for the fighting ability of the Indian military. Once he neared what he thought was just a village, he ordered an immediate attack and split his troops into three groups. This was to ensure few Indians would be able to escape. What it ensured was Custer's troops were weakened and at the end of the day Custer and 210 men were dead.</span></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to Lakota writer Joseph Marshall, III in his book <em>The Day The World Ended at Little Bighorn</em>, the Lakota claimed victory, but "uneasiness settled in the minds of many of the old ones." They had seen the whites go from annoying interlopers to land-hungry enemies. Marshall says, "That knowledge was the basis for a nagging question that some asked one another, or simply wrestled with alone. What would this victory bring?"</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This incredible victory would bring terror, sorrow, and death. Crazy Horse would be killed in 1877 after surrendering. Sitting Bull would surrender and be killed on a reservation in 1890. From June 25, 1876 until December 29, 1890, the Lakota would be hunted down, put on reservations, and finally over 200 Lakota would be massacred at Wounded Knee bringing about the end of the "Indian conflicts."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The bright spot in all of this is the Lakota were not utterly destroyed. Their way of life was forever changed, but the army couldn't destroy their spirit. Marshall says, "The forces that sent armies to herd our ancestors onto reservations could not destroy the essence of our culture."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho are still among us. Most are on reservations today, but they have preserved their culture, traditions, and language for the most part. And, within the last few years, both sides of the story has been told. What was once called Custer's Last Stand, is now called the Battle of Little Bighorn. And, thankfully, reasonable people realize the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho were defending their way of life - just as all of us would do if we were suddenly invaded by hostile forces today.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbhyphenhyphenGtrS-_sJ8eJxnGW4SttFaXDJfRItuconb2eWy6S_up-SpGN0d2AEkAzavtgL8ED4KvgSW0GD2scP_bfVR5a56TMdsueWLzn2ttK8rtev70_BNVU1FGu7g6yXPIcv_1CwXCZwz3vo/s1600/LBH7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbhyphenhyphenGtrS-_sJ8eJxnGW4SttFaXDJfRItuconb2eWy6S_up-SpGN0d2AEkAzavtgL8ED4KvgSW0GD2scP_bfVR5a56TMdsueWLzn2ttK8rtev70_BNVU1FGu7g6yXPIcv_1CwXCZwz3vo/s320/LBH7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Little Bighorn is now a National Monument where both the 7th Cavalry and the Indian tribes are remembered and honored for both sides fought bravely that day in 1876, and as with any war only one side could be victorious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Perhaps the lesson we can learn from this is arrogance can make us think we are invincible when in fact all it really does is cloud our ability to see how vulnerable we are until it's too late.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-40479401274184599892011-06-23T18:50:00.000-07:002011-06-23T18:50:48.209-07:00Whoever Exalts Himself<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post for today has been rolling around in my head for some time now. It's one of those things that just won't go away, and I don't know if writing about it will make it go away or not, but I've decided to go with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I get a lot of praise and, for lack of a better term, adoration because of the work I do with the Lakota kids. Being human, I feel good about what I'm doing and that people notice; however, I also feel enormous discomfort when receiving the praise and adoration because I don't think I'm doing anything special. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love going to Pine Ridge each year, and honestly start anticipating my return the minute we drive away from the reservation. I can't hardly wait until September rolls around each year. Many times I question if this ministry is a God thing or a Lisa thing. I usually begin to question it when I'm trying to get the funds needed to make the mission happen, but we always get just what we need, and I know it's absolutely a God thing. So, in the end, I conclude if God didn't want this to happen, we wouldn't get what we need. The struggle while overwhelming at the time is always that much sweeter when I see God come through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, I think I'm supposed to go. I think God was preparing me for this long before I had even the slightest inkling I would be doing this every year. I have always been fascinated by Indian culture and tradition. And, as I started to study the history of the American Indians, He placed a burden on my heart for the people that never goes away. I can't explain how my heart aches for these people across our country, who have faced such injustices so often at the hand of people claiming to be Christians. I think God and Jesus must have felt such sorrow at how the American Indians have suffered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My greatest fear in the work I do is that one of these days, I will start believing I'm something special for going Therefore, I remain ever vigilant to stay grounded in the one truth, which is the only one who deserves praise is Jesus, the Son, and God, the Father. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I constantly remind myself what Jesus had to say about the Pharisees, who did everything for show, who wanted the praise of men, who wanted to be noticed for their great works. "Everything they do is done for men to see. They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long, they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplace and to have men call them Rabbi...for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23: 5,12)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When people thank me for going, I'm at a loss at exactly how to respond because in my eyes I'm doing nothing extraordinary. God tells us to go, to do, to pray, to give. He expects me to follow through and while I fall short in so many ways, this one thing I do joyfully and with no desire for praise. In reality, the greatest thanks anyone could show me is to give to the cause. Embrace the purpose of the mission, which is to show Jesus' love to kids, many who have no concept of what love is all about from any perspective, human or divine. If you embrace the mission, you've shown me you appreciate what those of us who go to Pine Ridge are doing.</span>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-19820626135942500792011-06-22T19:30:00.000-07:002011-06-22T19:32:29.252-07:00Completely His - Part 3<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shannon Ehtridge in her book <em>Completely His</em> introduced me to a new perspective on ministry. It's actually based on a concept given to her by David Ravenhill. It's the concept of the Ishmael or Isaac ministry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Using the story of Abraham and Sarah, Ethridge illustrates how we humans can try to accomplish our purpose or we can take the time to pursue God and learn what His purpose is for us. We can try to do things ourselves or we can trust God to use us to make His purpose happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When it appeared Sarah couldn't have children, she decided to take matters into her own hands and convinced Abraham that he should take her handmaid, Hagar, and have a child with her. Abraham didn't seem to have a problem with this plan, which just shows us that even God's true believers can make poor decisions when they don't check with God first. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, but Ishmael wasn't the fulfillment of God's plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In God's time, Sarah did have a child and he was named Isaac. Isaac was God's plan and the tribes of Israel would come from Isaac. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ethridge says, "Instead of asking God 'what dreams do You want to bring to life through me?' we often ask, 'Lord will You bless the dreams I have for my life?'" I know I have at least 99.9% of the time asked the latter and not the former.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to Ethridge, our dreams will bear human-sized fruits (Ishmael ministries) not God-sized harvests (Isaac ministries). As Ravenhill shared with Ethridge, "Our dreams are either self-appointed or God-anointed."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">How do we find out what our Isaac ministry is? Know Christ initmately, and be willing to submit to God's dream for our lives. If we get to know God, we will discover what we are born to do for His kingdom, and He will let us know when it's time to make the dream happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are two questions Ethridge says we have to answer if we want to have Isaac ministries:</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Are you willing to give God permission to enlarge your dreams if they are too small?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Do you trust in His infinitely good and loving nature enough to surrender your own plans and embrace </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">His?</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For me, I will say the submission and surrendering are hard. I want to stay in control. Stubborn will keeps me in the Ishmael category even though I long to have an Isaac ministry. And, my soul wrestles within me to say my dreams are not important - forget my dreams, please Lord use me for Your dreams.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">© Lisa Kelley 2011</span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-67540520964249226012011-06-20T17:22:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:35:45.705-07:00Completely His - Part 2<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I began a short series based on Shannon Ethridge's book <em>Completely His</em>. The book uses the analogy of Jesus as our bridegroom and has had a profound effect on me. I simply haven't been able to stop thinking about Jesus as my heavenly bridegroom, and what that should mean to me.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Ethridge tells the story of Hosea, who at God's urging took a prostitute for a wife. And this wife didn't immediately change her ways. Eventually, she did, but the reason God wanted Hosea to marry such a woman was so He could visually demonstrate how the children of Israel were playing the harlot with Him. Ethridge quotes Hoses 2:20, in which God tells Israel, "I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you Mine, and you will finally know me as Lord."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Jewish custom required a bride price be paid by the groom. And this bride price was nothing to sneeze about. The bride came at a great cost. Jesus, my bridegroom, paid the ultimate price for me. He gave His life to have me as His bride, even though He knew I would not be faithful and I would search in all the wrong places and ways to find love and fulfillment. I am certain, He also knew when I would finally come running to Him and say, "You are my Lord."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Ethridge says, "God wants us to love Him with a reckless abandon kind of love. A love that says, 'I'm going to love You, no matter what it takes, no matter where it takes me, even if the going gets tough or times get hard. I'm going to love You. Period. And that will never change'...We simply can't find our heart's true delight anywhere else except in the presence of Jesus."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">How does the faithful bride of Christ act? The way a faithful bride of mortal man would act. She longs to be with Him. She makes time to be with Him. She expresses her love for Him. She thinks about Him. She asks Him to stay with her. Ethridge says, "The true bride of Christ longs to adore Him."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Tenth Avenue North has a lovely song called <em>Beloved</em>. In it, Jesus tells us how we are His beloved.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You're my beloved, lover I'm yours.<br />
Death shall not part us, it's you I died for.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For better or worse forever we'll be.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My love it unites us and it binds you to me.<br />
It's a mystery.</span></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For better or worse - Jesus has gotten the worst from me that is absolutely for sure. And, as undeserving as I am for the better, He gave it to me anyway.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6CUGTIWCFyo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">© Lisa Kelley 2011</span></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22925321095626528.post-60041717521262576212011-06-19T14:48:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:34:54.314-07:00Completely His - Part I<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the past two weeks, I've been reading a book by Shannon Ethridge called <em>Completely His.</em> I'm not sure how many posts I have in me about how this book has affected me, but there are at least two or three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this book, Ethridge really focuses on how Jesus has said He is our bridegroom and we, the saved, are His bride. Naturally, I have heard this analogy all my life, but it wasn't until I read this book I really started to think about what it means if Jesus is my bridegroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With regards to earthly marriage, I've always believed in the sanctity of marriage. I've never married, but I knew if I ever did, I would enter marriage with the idea I would be married to the person for life. At least twice in my life, I've had a married man come on to me with one even going so far as to say, he had never had an affair, but he would with me. I wasn't flattered. I was absolutely appalled and took a long hard look at how I'd sent any type of signal that would indicate I was romantically interested in these men. To my knowledge, I hadn't. I'd just been myself and while I considered both friends, I'd never even thought about a relationship with them because they were married. The only thing I knew to do when it became obvious their feelings were inappropriate was to distance myself from them because I knew I wasn't going there - ever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before you think how good I am, let me stop you. I may have believed in the sanctity of an earthly marriage, but my life hasn't reflected the sanctity of my marriage to Christ. And, for this I feel such regret. All these years, I could have been giving myself to Jesus in a way that showed how very much a relationship with Him meant to me. I've pursued other lovers - career, entertainment, empty earthly relationships, which in the end have not satisfied me. Etheridge says, "The essence of idolatry is looking to something or someone else to fill us up and satisfy us in a way that only our Creator God can."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shamefully, it's only been within the last year I've truly made an all out effort to know God more intimately. And even now I still only give a part of myself to Him. I read His word, but I don't spend an adequate amount of time trying to hear what He is saying to me. I pray, but it's still totally one-sided and sporadic at best. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ethridge quotes Basilea Schlink from her book <em>My All for Him</em>, which for me sums up what Jesus wants from us. And, it really isn't anything more than what an earthly husband would want, which I would willing fulfill if I were married.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Schlink says, "From Jesus words 'Whoever loves Me...' and 'Do you love Me?' we sense how much He yearns for us to love Him. But it is a special kind of love He seeks. It is the love that is reflected in the relationship between an earthly bride and her bridegroom. An exclusive love. A love that tolerates no rivals. A love that gives the beloved, the bridegroom, the first place. As the heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus lays claim to such first love. Because He loves us so dearly, He longs to have the whole of us. Jesus gave Himself unreservedly for us. Now, He yearns for us to give ourselves completely to Him, with all that we are and have, so that He can truly be our first love."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the changes I've made this year is to listen to more Christian music. Music has always spoken to me, and I've found there are more songs than I can even begin to name that have spoken to me about how much Jesus loves me. One of my favorites, which is now my ringtone on my phone, is <em>By Your Side</em> by Tenth Avenue North. Literally, every where I go, I hear this song, even in church this morning as the choir entered, so I'm thinking there is a message for me in it. When I hear it, I don't think about Tenth Avenue North. I imagine Jesus singing to me, and He is really telling me that even though I've strayed...even though I've acted like His love wasn't enough...even though I've tried to find love in all the wrong places...He has been faithfully waiting for me, ready to hold me whenever I would turn to Him and let Him love me as only He can. No one else has ever said, "I love you...I'll never let you</span> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">go." But Jesus said it when I first came to Him, and He is still saying it after all these years of my unfaithfulness. And, all I know is I've never known anyone else who could and would love me in such a way. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">© Lisa Kelley 2011</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780997708626651718noreply@blogger.com0