Posts from "December 2012"

Waiting . . . I Hate It!

Dec 28, 2012 by Lori Beard filed in General ,

This week a couple of things have reminded me that waiting is truly against our sinful nature, but absolutely necessary in the big plan of salvation and sanctification. The Bible refers to waiting in several different places.

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Of Cats, Creation, The Fall and Three Girls

Dec 20, 2012 by Keith McWhorter filed in Creation/Evolution ,

Buzz was a good cat, if there really is such a thing.

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Christmas in Connecticut

Dec 18, 2012 by Keith McWhorter filed in Culture War ,

Our digitally over-stimulated society has led to many benefits, but also many curses. Among the curses, I believe, is the ability of nearly anyone and everyone to publicly "respond" to newsworthy (or not so newsworthy) matters. And apparently we all, myself included, simply cannot not respond. Bad English, but you get the point! We just cannot help ourselves. We feel compelled to make sure everyone knows how we feel or what we think when a deranged young adult guns down children, for example.

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I Know but I Don't Know

Dec 15, 2012 by Lori Beard filed in Culture War ,

I have been thinking today about the same thing you all have..this tragedy in Connecticut. It is really an atrocity..a massacre...a crime beyond belief. No matter how you describe it, you will end up at the same emotional place...to horrified for words. I have been thinking about all the people involved in that arena today. The mommas and daddies...the brothers and sisters...the grandmas and grandpas...the teachers and staff left behind....the wives and husbands and children left behind; and the grief counselors attending there onsite. As I began to hear about these grief counselors I found myself thanking God that I don't live there and do not have to attend to those massive, open bleeding hearts. I tried to think of words that I could say that would comfort and speak truth and life into the dead, lifeless hole that so many of the hearts there have become. I could think of none. I certainly cannot say I understand; I feel your pain; I know what you feel like. I do not know any of those things and I pray I never understand that kind of pain. I certainly could not discourse on how tomorrow will be brighter and how time heals all wounds because for them tomorrow will not come for their precious loved ones and time has been stopped in one horrible moment. I could not offer wisdom because I have none to offer in this particular situation. What in the world could one say? What in the world could one even pray? I found my answer where I always find my answers..in my precious Bible. It is truly sufficient for every pain; it can answer every question; and it can fill every need. I am praying tonight the precious Word of God for Connecticut and its people and for our country in general.

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When is it OK to Lie?

Dec 11, 2012 by Keith McWhorter filed in Culture War ,

Complete the following sentence:

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Praying for Your Husband

Dec 07, 2012 by Lori Beard filed in Marriage ,
It is with a humble heart that I write today. I pray for my husband regularly but there was a time I did not. I spent hours fussing at him and about him....hours lamenting how stupid he was and how smart I was (so obviously delusional). I spent hours wondering how in the world I ended up with a man who so obviously did not deserve me (ouch ouch ouch) and I spent about 20 minutes a week praying about him. I use the words about him because it was not really for him. I knew exactly what he needed....after all I was the one patiently enduring all his issues (I had none) and I knew what needed to be changed. So I spent time telling God how to change this amazing man created by an amazing God. I spent time griping to God and anybody who would listen about how GOD needed to fix him. I requested prayer that listed the faults I wanted others to pray about in Cliff. Sadly...very few Christian women ever told me to shut up and be thankful. They understood I needed to vent (oh brother...too bad vent means gossip). So we stayed married in self-righteous robes with me playing the martyr and no joy to be found. All this time this man I was bashing in my life and prayers was faithfully providing...faithfully protecting...faithfully loving me. And then a dear 80 year old friend who truly loved me called me on the carpet and offered to help me pray for my husband. What a life changing...God amazing moment....we began to seek God hard...not for my marriage....not for all of my husband's faults (real and imagined) but for God to change me. Oh man...a new world opened up...joy..compassion...mercy opened to me and starting to breathe through me. My husband began to walk around in a daze. He could not figure out where his nag had gone and who was this wildly loving woman he was coming home to. Without me praying about one of his faults...without me blaming him or requiring him to change anything...God began to change the heart of My husband and to turn it towards me in trust and passion and love. Life has never been the same. We still struggle. We still yell (well I yell...Cliff folds his arms and rolls his eyes) but now we both pray and seek forgiveness for our own hearts. Brand new joyful place to live....yaaaaaaa for Jesus and my dear friend Juanita Parkhill who loved me enough to correct me and teach me. I would like to pass that on. Ladies please pray for your husbands with hearts turned toward Jesus and full of understanding that change begins with you. Juanita gave me a book that taught me how to do this called The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. There is also a resource on www.ReviveYourHeart.com that is so helpful and practical called "31 days of praying for your spouse."
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