I JUST NEED A FEW THINGS

I am not a shopper.  There are many things I love to do, but shopping is not one of them.  I enjoy looking around an antique store, but clothes shopping happens, maybe, twice a year.  I like going to wineries, but Target holds no magic.  I enjoy art museums and book stores, but only go to Walmart when absolutely necessary.  If I am in need of material for baby blanket material I can spend a long time matching the border to the main pattern, but I try to be in and out of most stores in the least amount of time as possible.  But sometimes shopping cannot be avoided.

The list is short.  I just need a few things.  It will not take long.  I needed shampoo – oh, look, it is on sale.  Toothpaste – better get a couple new brushes too.  This darn sinus requires Kleenex.  And all those battery operated decorations seem to drain AA batteries as if they were drinking a milkshake – buy two and get one free.  What a deal!  And, just like that, before I even realize it, the cart is full.  What happened?  The list was short.  Honest.  There were only a few things. 

I have a rather vivid imagination – surely the result of no TV until I was around 13, having to visualize the story told on the radio, and reading books.  Lots of books.  Yes, I have an imagination and I can close my eyes and picture Jesus setting up a booth at the Friday morning farmer’s market.  An empty booth!

< < < <   > > > >

Jesus is standing there, under a stripped tent held up by poles, and waiting.  The market will open shortly, but there he stands while all the other merchants are scrambling to set out their fruit and vegetables and pottery and rope.  They all have so much to offer.  And Jesus stands there.  He is nodding to the merchants walking by and they snicker because they see nothing to sell.  The women, with handmade items, walk quickly by and then talk about the strange man at the table.  They whisper, “Is he for real?  Is he waiting on someone to deliver his goods?  Oh, we better get set up.  It is almost time.”

The gates open and --

A child walks right up to Jesus.  Kneeling down, he looks at the child and smiles.  At first the child’s mother is uneasy, but one look into Jesus’ eyes and she knows this man would always cherish her child.  And she trusts.

A young man walked by and Jesus called his name.  The young man looked up and said, “Do I know you?”  You will.  With a bowed head and heavy heart, the young man whispered his greatest fear.  You do not need to worry about tomorrow.  Wait till then.  Tell me how I can help you right now.  And the young man calmly walked away.

A woman slipped from behind Jesus’ tent, looked around, and asked, “Would you have a sip of water for me.  I am very thirsty.”  Of course, but come around here.  “Oh no.  I am a Samaritan…”  It will be okay.  Here…this water will quench your thirst.  After one sip the woman ran away to tell the others.

The elderly man bumped into Jesus.  “I am sorry.  I should have been watching where I was going.”  Maybe you are on the wrong path.  The LORD has a special plan for you and a future.  “For me?  But I am old.  Useless.”  No.  Would you go talk to the young man…the one in the red sandals…red sandals, can you believe what these kids wear today… you are a potter, right?  “Yes, but how did you know?”  The red sandal guy is in need of your skills in his new shop.  “Are you sure…oh, yes.  I will go immediately.”  Changing direction, the elderly man was soon shaking the hand of the kid in the red sandals.

Jesus was taking down his tent and a merchant stopped and asked, “Did you not have anything to sell?”

You are right.  I had not one thing to sell.

“But everyone talked to you.  Were you selling something they had to go pick up?  Or was Amazon delivering?”

Is your house far?  I am going to be your guest tonight.  We need to talk about salvation and how the lost can be saved. 

< < < <   > > > >

Yes, I have a vivid imagination.

But what if…

what if Jesus set up a booth at the local farmer’s market?

What would you find?

Scriptures:  Luke 18:16-17,   Matthew 6:34,   John 4:10,   Jeremiah 29:11, and Luke 19:10

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Matthew 18:6

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Today’s blog is different than any I have ever posted, but it is something I feel very strongly about.  It is an issue we all need to realize is spreading across this country and into every school and into the mind of every child:  Extreme Sex Education.  More and more states are implementing sex education beginning in kindergarten.  These children are receiving information too early.  Information they are not mentally, emotionally, or physically ready to understand. Information which will shape their future sexuality.  Information which contains illustrations that would not be allowed on Facebook.  Excerpts from various articles are indented.

A good beginning article is The Super-Sexualization of Children:  Time to Take Notice.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-your-child-needs-know-about-sex-and-when/201109/the-super-sexualization-children-time-take?fbclid=IwAR2BixLHhfGdm4KEojA8AqqeFth7NQ5C5iHC38K__YBKk_POaT7_fI0mMSY

So make no mistake about it; your child will be exposed to an enormous amount of sex-related content no matter how hard you try to shield them from it.

The biggest impact however that the super-sexualization of children can have is its overall looming effect on the day-to-day existence of kids. Sexuality becomes much more of a player than it should, irrespective of the child's age. It's as if children's normal curiosity towards sexuality gets ratcheted up a number of notches as if on steroids. 

If you (parents) take it upon yourself to speak honestly, lovingly, and on a regular basis with your child about the sexualized world around her, you will help her make sense of it, help her to put it into an understandable context, and help her to counter any potential negative consequences to all this exposure.

The problem is parents are no longer the ones teaching their children about sex and when the parent believes them to be emotionally, mentally, and physically ready to understand various concepts.  The schools are taking over that role and beginning at a much younger age.  Sex education is no longer teaching girls about menstruation and boys about puberty.  It is teaching them graphic sex.

EXAMPLE 1:  Early Elementary Sex Education Curriculum (grades K-3)

http://www.seemore.mi.org/portfolio/sex-ed/?fbclid=IwAR2xCh7n-nnvc2d2n5OAx-7Z_lHkA_t6xdPyMEc5jiPXT0j1WjBDwUcg-hI

This curriculum is aimed at early elementary students (grades K-3) in the public school. It addresses developmentally appropriate issues for children who have not yet reached puberty in six key concept areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health and society.

Day One: Human Development

·       Begin with direct instruction to help the children become comfortable with sexual terminology. Provide dittoes of naked boys and girls with clearly labeled body parts, and instruct them to "color the feet green" and "color the scrotum orange."

·       Lead a concept attainment lesson on body diversity. Help the children name the ways in which our bodies can be different: color, shape, size, ability, gender, age, etc. Provide pictures of many different body types (an excellent cartoon-style drawing of body diversity can be found in It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris).

·       Provide hands-on, realistic models of the male and female genitalia for children to touch, take apart and examine. This may be some children’s only chance to see adult genitalia up close before they become adults themselves, and it may help them feel much more comfortable with themselves and others.

This is a lesson plan for grades K-3.  Provide hands-on, realistic models of the male and female genitalia for children to touch, take apart and examine.  This was written by http://www.seemore.mi.org/portfolio/

EXAMPLE 2:  Here Are The Details On California’s Sex Education

https://dailycaller.com/2019/07/08/california-sexual-education/?fbclid=IwAR3cHAxREufm7jBFYK-Lm_LF6tKtDIRjHD6TgL0Q11IRaYDnCm8NPgpUQWM

AB-329 allows for parents to opt their children out of sexual education. However, the bill prohibits parents from opting their children out of materials that discuss gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

“They talk about mutual masturbation,” he added.  “They discuss gender roles, the gender spectrum, and in the support materials … they take it even further. They discuss everything, topics like roleplaying for different genders, blood play, dental dams … fisting is mentioned. I mean, they mention it all.”

There is a video, about half way down this article, about California’s new sex plan.  You have to register to see it because it has some graphic pictures.  Pictures which are being shown to students.

EXAMPLE 3:  NJ Schools Test New Mandatory LGBT Curriculum for Math, History, Grammar

https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/nj-schools-test-new-mandatory-lgbt-curriculum-for-math-history-grammar/?fbclid=IwAR1qGX8jNdGP8XjEPhG-de0eJotZcHnS8f8gGNGRAKIA4ovaH7d8Noz5LJ0

The curriculum will be mandatory across the state beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, with no parental opt-out provision. Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) signed a bill mandating this kind of curriculum, making New Jersey the second state after California (2011) to do so. Illinois followed later last year.

"The intent of the law is for material to be weaved across subjects rather than taught as a stand-alone history lesson, said advocates and legislators who supported it," the magazine reported. In other words, not only will parents not be given the option to opt their kids out of the program, but children will not necessarily be aware of the LGBT lessons when they are taught.

This law violates the fundamental and constitutional rights of parents to direct the moral and educational upbringing of their children," the petition says. "It was written with no protections for families – families cannot opt their child out of the content for any reason, not even if they have religious or moral objections!

While it is important to acknowledge the Nazis' oppression against gay people, many LGBT activists have sought to redefine history in pursuit of their agenda. Some have claimed that the Bible figures of King David and Jonathan were homosexual or bisexual, while others have insisted that the Bible figures Deborah, King David, and the Apostle Paul were "transgender" or "gender non-conforming." While many historical figures did engage in homosexual activity — the ancient Greeks were notorious for pederasty — the concepts of "lesbian," "gay," "bisexual," and "transgender" as identities are extremely modern, and it would do violence to history to apply them anachronistically to figures who never considered themselves that way.

This last article is about mandatory LGBT curriculum, but it is included to show how extensive the sex education, of our children, has become.  It is included in classes such as math. 

EXAMPLE 4:  Sex Ed Book Seeks to Groom Children For Early Onset Of Sex

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/11/06/former-planned-parenthood-trainer-sex-ed-book-seeks-groom-children-early-onset-sex/?fbclid=IwAR3xatMAF3tTreWpZJ5vYluk2yk5siysBENfvjw_QmpyU0mRof1dCOELyoc

Planned Parenthood is also contributing to sex education in our schools:

The first chapter of the book is titled “Can You Die from Masturbating Too Much?” Subsequent chapters include “Do Guys Really Cum in Their Sleep?” and “Is Twelve Too Young to Know I’m Bi?”

They justify their actions by stating that they are simply answering the questions of curious youth,” explained Cline, who left Planned Parenthood and ultimately founded her own website and organization called It Takes a Family. Now, she urges parents to “reclaim parenthood” and provides them with resources needed to build up trust in family bonds.

“Hooking up?” asked Planned Parenthood in a recent tweet. “Here are 12 ways to do it right.” The tweet contains a link to a Teen Vogue article, titled “How to Be an Ethical Hook-Up Partner,” which targets adolescents.  Despite the often-negative press, hookups, or, short term sexual/intimate encounters, like one-night stands, summer flings, and semester-long friends-with-benefits relationships, can come with a lot of descriptors: “casual,” “fun,” “random,” and “spontaneous” can be some, but can they also be ethical, considerate, and satisfying? We think yes!

There could be link after link after link.  Is this what we want for the children in our local communities?  In our states?  In our country?  Do not think for one minute it will not be taught in your local school.  Taught to your children or grandchildren.  Unless we speak up.  Unless we stop this..it will be mandated.  Our schools will have no option.  Our teachers will have no option.  Parents will have no option.

My concern – a concern we should all have – is that our children – of all genders -- are being introduced to sexual content before they are emotionally, mentally, or physically ready to understand.  No student in K-3 should be given realistic models of the male and female genitalia for children to touch, take apart and examine.  School children should not be having condom relay races. 

But if we keep quiet … the model of a penis will be passed around the classroom.  And condoms will be passed during a relay race.  And the innocence of our children will be lost.

Find your voice.  Speak to school boards and ALL elected officials.  This must be stopped.

Thank you for reading to the end.

THE LOST NECKLACE

It was a typical morning.  Hubby and I were enjoying our morning coffee with friends – when my necklace fell off.  I must not have gotten it hooked properly.  Back around my neck it went. 

After coffee, I went to CVS to get a few things, put them away, fixed lunch, and realized my necklace was ….. gone.

I have two, very nice cross necklaces I wear to church, but this one is my everyday necklace.  I put it on when I get up and take it off at night.  It just feels right to have it on.  And it was not there.

I looked in the car, around the car, and where I had been in the house.  NO NECKLACE!

I called the bakery – no they had not found a necklace.  I called CVS – no they had not found a necklace.  I would go look!

Knowing I was upset, hubby drove me to the bakery.  I looked where the car had been parked and under the chair where I had been sitting.  NO NECKLACE!

We drove to CVS.  I looked where the car had been parked.  NO NECKLACE! 

I went inside and walked up and down every aisle.  I looked around the shampoo and toothpaste.  I looked around the Christmas sale items.  I starred at the floor next to the cards and in front of the pharmacy counter.  NO NECKLACE!

I walked again – yes again – down the aspirin aisle – and there – in the middle of the aisle – where I had walked minutes before --- was the --- chain.  I picked up the chain and looked really hard.  I looked from every angle.  A chain but no cross. 

I thought – which aisle had I been on before this one?  I retraced my steps.  And there – was the cross!

I have two, very nice cross necklaces and received a new one for Christmas, but this one ….. It was lost and I wanted to find it.

Where am I going with this?  Simple – if I looked this hard for a necklace, which could easily be replaced, how hard does the Shepherd look for lost souls?

Jesus speaks:  “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one.  Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?  When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me!  I’ve found my lost sheep!’  Count on it – there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”                Luke 15:4-7 – The Message

Jesus ate with tax collectors.  He talked with sinners.  He wants ALL his sheep to be in the flock.  ALL!!!

Do you ever feel lost or not good enough?  Do you ever feel like there is no way God would want a person like you?

Listen up!  The GOOD NEWS is that the Shepherd is looking for you!  He will not rest until each of His sheep is rescued.  And that includes YOU!

AND LIFE QUICKLY CHANGES

It happens in a heartbeat.  Life is no longer the life you had.  In a heartbeat, your life will never be the same.

All you have to do is pick up a newspaper, listen to the news, open Facebook, or answer the phone and a tragedy touches your life.  Sometimes we can help with a donation.  Sometimes we can send a card.  Sometimes we can visit.  And, sometimes, sometimes we can ………

I am not sure how to finish, because sometimes there is nothing we can do.  Except realize how valuable and precious life is.

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God, are you listening?

“Of course.  Don’t I always listen?”

Yes, but ‘Hey God’ did not seem the best way to get your attention and I wanted to talk with you.

“Well, you are good at talking so talk away.”

How do we – how do I – prepare when life changes in an instant?  Many years ago, my dad died un-expectantly.  This week, a member of my church family died in a tragic accident.  It is hard.  It hurts.  It is confusing ….

“I could give you a number of Bible verses to look up, but right now I think you need …”

Do you really know what I need?  You are GOD!  The big G!  What I need is …

“What you need is to take a breath and answer me a question. --- Ready? --- Are you afraid?”

Yes. 

“Now we are getting somewhere.  Let’s change directions.  Please look up these verses and then we will continue.”

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Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.     Joshua 1:9

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.     Psalms 119:28

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.     Isaiah 41:10

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.     Matthew 6:34

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.     2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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“What did you learn?”

My fear is nothing new.  Joshua was afraid after Moses died.  David’s soul was “weary with sorrow.”  You assured the descendants of Abraham that you would strengthen and help them.   

“Don’t forget about my righteous right hand holding you up.”

May I continue?  -- I learned I should not worry about tomorrow.  And…

“And…?”

I learned that because you give me compassion and comfort during my troubles, I can use that gift to comfort others.

“Are you feeling better?”

Do you want me to be honest?

“Of course.  I can handle your anger, your fears, and your honesty.”

I am still afraid.  What if ….

“Mary, my child, -- I love calling you my child – let me ask you another question.  You have no control over what might happen tomorrow or even the next minute, can you apply “what if” to today?  To right now?”

I can try.  What if today I  -- I am thinking – What if today I

• give a stranger my smile?
• give a flower to a neighbor?
• take time to watch the sunset?
• call a friend?
• share your comfort?

“You got this.  Keep going.”

What if I tell my family I cherish them?

What if I trust you?

“Bingo.  Better now?”

For now.  If I need you …

“I’m right here.  I’ll listen for you to say, “Hey God.”

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“Gabriel, you can put the 2 X 4 away.  All she needed was to know it would be okay.”

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Tragedies happen so quickly and touch so many lives.  May you find the courage to trust God with your fear, your anger, and your grief.  His love will surround you with a healing strength which will allow you to breathe.  Which, eventually, will allow you to heal through forgotten moments and treasured memories.

THINGS I DO NOT WANT TO PASS UP

January 2, 2020, I spoke at Timbercrest (a local retirement community).  I like speaking at their chapel.  No, I am not going to post the whole message, but I do want to share the last part.  (Yes, it is a bit longer than my normal blog, so get a cup of coffee, sit in your favorite chair, and read away.)

The message was about setting three life goals?

FINDING WONDER IN NORMAL THINGS

FINDING JOY IN OTHERS

KNOWING WHAT NOT TO PASS UP

The first two are pretty obvious.  We see normal things so often we miss the wonder.  An example is a child sitting on a parent’s lap, with their head gently resting on a shoulder.  BUT, when we look past the normal and see the trust and the feeling of being safe, we see the wonder.

Finding joy in others is not something new for me, but something I want to keep doing.  People have such stories.  Besides, Hebrews 13:2 instructs me:  Mary do not ignore strangers for you might ignore an angel.  Believe me – I do not want an angel telling God I ignored them.

Of the three goals, “Knowing what not to pass up” is the most important. 

KNOWING WHAT NOT TO PASS UP

That might be an unusual statement, but there are parts of our faith that are of no value if we pass them up.  Three of those parts are the Bible, Christmas and Easter, and Communion.

THE BIBLE

A number of studies show that 87% of American households have a Bible.  As a matter of fact, each of those households has three copies.  I like those numbers.  87% is pretty good.  Right?  And three copies in each home….

Then I kept on reading.  87% have a Bible but only 22% read from that Bible every day.  30% occasionally look up a certain scripture.  35% never pick it up. 

One report said, “Americans treat reading the Bible a little bit like exercise.  They know it’s important and helpful but they don’t do it.

I have news for you:  A closed Bible, dusted in case the minister stops by, is of absolutely no value.  A Bible is only good when it is opened and read!  For full disclosure:  There are days that disappear and when I lay my head down, I realize my Bible was not opened that day.

But I do not want to pass this opportunity up!  I want to find comfort!  I want to find salvation!  I want to know how to get through trials!  And I want to celebrate my joys with God!  I want to know about eternal life and I want to know how to get there! 

I want to find forgiveness, because only in those pages will I find the one person who can present me to God as forgiven. 

I do not want to pass this up. 

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.  Revelation 1:3

The Bible is an opportunity I do not want to pass this up.

CHRISTMAS AND EASTER

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus and I do not want to pass up this gift. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:6-7

Wonderful Counselor – Mighty – Everlasting – Peace – FOREVER.

I do not want to pass this up!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:10-12

A baby – A Savior – for ALL!  For all – that means for you… and me.

Pass this up?  NO WAY!

It is so easy to look forward to Christmas.  A baby – who doesn’t like a baby?  But the gift of Christmas has no value without the gift of Easter.  And that gift is not so easy to accept.  The pain of Easter is real –

They stripped him.  They mocked him.  They spit on him.  They struck him.  They drove nails in his hands and feet. 

At about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Again he cried out and gave up his spirit.  (parts of Matthew 27)

How I want to pass on this.  Maybe,   maybe, I can turn the pages very quickly.  Maybe I will not hear myself deny knowing Jesus.  Maybe I will not see myself in the crowd shouting “give us Barabbas” or holding a crown of thorns.  Because, in one way or another, at some time in my life, I have denied.  I have shouted.  I have held the thorns.  How I want to pass on this.

But I cannot.  To pass on the crucifixion would mean the resurrection would have no value.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”  John 14:1-4

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  Mark 16:19

Pass on Easter?  NO WAY!  I want my room!  I want Jesus to take me to be with him! 

COMMUNION

It amazes me that communion is always pictured with the cup full of wine and the plate full of bread.  Why?  Communion is of no value sitting on the altar and I do not want to pass it up. 

I want to see the cup empty because I drank from it.

I want to see the bread gone because I ate it.

Communion should be pictured with an empty cup and only bread crumbs left on the plate.  And even those crumbs should be gone.

I do not want to pass communion up.

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. ….. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

John 6:32-33, 35, 39-40

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.  Luke 22:19-20

I do not want to pass up communion.  I want to honor the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

During 2020 and beyond I hope you will also make these your goals because --

Finding wonder in normal things will make your day better.

Finding joy in others will enrich two lives – yours and theirs.

And – most important –

Knowing what not to pass up – will lead you to

The Word of God

The amazing gift of God’s Son

The opportunity to honor God’s gift and Jesus’ sacrifice through communion

It is a New Year.  Full of new opportunities.  Go forth – and don’t screw it up.