Multifaceted Praise

There seems to be such a sense of confusion lingering over this planet lately. People are confused about everything! Religion, gender, abortion, and even someone’s ‘right’ to break a law…..the list goes on and on. I know, for me, my moral compass is the word of God. I try to live by the Bible and allow it to guide my thought process and my decisions. However, what about those who don’t acknowledge God or the Bible? I know some look to science and scientific facts to guide their thought process. So, I decided to do some research on abortion. I wanted to question my stance from a scientific angle. I’m no scientist nor am I a genius by any stretch of the imagination but here is some of what I have discovered.

If a person is declared dead when their heart stops beating, then why is a baby not declared alive, and a person, when its heart starts beating? The only answer I can come up with is LOCATION.

The first electrical brain activity is present at around 6 weeks and increases continually from that point on. Now, there are no cognitive skills or ability to form a complete thought, but, unfortunately, there are many grown adults that seem to suffer from that very thing also and they are still considered to be alive. So, if there is continually increasing brain activity, then why is that baby not considered alive and a person? Once again. LOCATION.

A baby has genetically specific DNA. One set of genes is received from the mother and one from the father. If the DNA of the baby is totally different from the mother, then why is the baby not considered a separate person from the beginning? LOCATION.

Now, I’m no scientist but why does LOCATION determine whether or not a baby is a person? Yes, I understand that the baby is dependent upon its mother for the nutrients needed to survive. I understand that the baby can not survive outside of the womb in the early stages of development. I do understand all of those aspects. However, I discovered that there are laws in place that protect eagle EGGS and sea turtle EGGS. An eagle or a sea turtle can not survive outside of the egg until it is fully developed but it is still protected as an eagle or a sea turtle. Now, if an eagle or a sea turtle is already an eagle or a sea turtle inside of the egg as it is developing, and is protected by law, then WHY is a baby not considered a person inside of the womb? I truly do not understand the difference here.

Unfortunately, until we establish that a baby in the womb is indeed a separate PERSON from the mother, we will limit the scope of people’s perception of abortion.

I realize that there are many other arguments that people use as part of the Pro-life/Pro-choice discussion but these are the things that stood out to me. My stance has always been Pro-life and this research has just reiterated that to me even more.

This was not written to start a debate or to condemn anyone who has had an abortion. This is simply to make those who aren’t sure what they actually believe, stop and think. Do your own research. Ask yourself the question, Is it all just about LOCATION?

Blue tarps blanket the skyline; one after another after another. Downtown buildings, once the hub of business, now missing the roof and an entire wall. The desks, tables, and chairs still sit inside as an ominous reminder of what has happened. The smaller trees are bent over, almost bowing down to the force that came against them. The huge oak trees uprooted and lay as a reminder of the beauty that was present but now is gone. The utility poles lean at almost a 45 degree angle, having survived the blow but are visibly shaken. Miles and miles of debris. Tree limbs, metal framing, and garbage bags line the streets. Big open fields, that were once filled with farm equipment and farm animals, now serve as dumping sites for the tons of debris that can safely be burned. Utility trucks and debris trucks seem to be on every corner, just trying to restore services. Builders and roofers are just as prominent. Everyone working diligently to make some sense of what has just happened and get things back to a sense of normal. Unfortunately, this didn’t JUST happen. It’s been over 3 months since Hurricane Michael hit the area. The devastation so extreme that it is still overwhelming. I say that as an outsider looking in. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for those living it! The devastation begins 3+ hours away from the coast and doesn’t stop until you reach the waters of the gulf. Sand dunes are not supposed to cover parking lots, but they do. Limited access to so many businesses because the sand is blocking the way. Workers are diligently trying to repair the damage but the volume is, once again, overwhelming.

Talking to locals with roof damage and they know it could be several more months before their repairs can be gotten to because the volume is so big. Every roofer is booked so you just have to wait. I was told you celebrate the small stuff: the roads being clear, the power coming back on after 25+ days. To me it’s all so overwhelming.

The road to recovery/rebuilding is definitely a LONG road! How do you even begin? I get the aspect of the natural things. You file the insurance/FEMA claims, you call your contractors, and you get ready for work. But I mean the hard stuff. How do even begin to put your life back together after such devastation? How do you put your heart back together after such an event? And I know things can be replaced. As long as you are alive, that’s the most important thing. But the heartache has to be overwhelming. Just the sheer shock of the devastation has to overcome you. But, the people get up every day and do what needs to be done. And they will do it day after day until life is back to normal.

I must admit, I had no idea. I’ve really never thought beyond the first impact photos the news shows you. The what happens next is the hard part! The people affected by this storm still need help. The devastation is real and it’s still so large that it’s overwhelming!

While driving through, I noticed many signs for 850 Strong, Inc. Check them out. I encourage you to check out any non-profit that may be helping the area and donate. But, most of all, continue to pray for all involved. Pray for the locals and the workers, who are there trying to reestablish some sense of order to the chaos.

(These photos were taken while riding through the area so they are not the best, but they will give you an idea of what is still happening on the ground. Most were taken 1 1/2+ hours away from the coast so you can imagine what the coast is like.)

I have decided that I am removing all of my doors. Every last single one of them! The entrance doors and the interior doors in my house must go. You see, I believe EVERYBODY is good, so no one will enter my house to harm me or steal any of my belongings. My children will be safe inside of my home without a door. No one would dare to harm my children, right???? I am, also, removing all of the interior doors because no one inside of my home deserves any privacy. Even the “potty room” will be open for everyone to see (and smell)!

And furthermore, if I don’t need doors in my home, then no doors are needed in public places either! Why does a restaurant need a door to separate the kitchen from the dining room? Or a door to separate the dining room from the restroom? Let’s just take down the doors AND tear out the walls!!! Walls only divide and separate us, so why do we need them? I don’t think anyone would have a problem going out to dinner and having a toilet in their sightline! Why should that bother you?? Everyone has to go–so it shouldn’t bother anyone to see that while they’re eating dinner! Right??

So, hopefully by now you have realized how ridiculous my point is here! No, I am NOT removing my doors, nor, do I recommend that anyone else does. My point with all of this is simple…we need doors and we need walls in our homes, public places, and our nation. I truly believe that MOST Americans agree that we need a wall on our southern border. So, where is the demand for it?? The American people have been silent for too long. (Especially those Americans, who claim to be Christians, have allowed their voice to be silenced for way too long.) There is a small “handful” who think no wall is needed. Why are they winning? It is time for us to regain our voice and never lose it again! Our voice must be loud and United! The American people must stand together and let the leaders know what we want. We must be persistent and not back down! I believe this should be done with respect and integrity. Riots and “craziness ” IS NOT the way to get results. It’s time to put a demand on those stopping the building of our border wall!

We must secure our borders, then make our nation a safer place for EVERYONE in it!

For those who believe no border wall is needed, please remove the doors from your home so that the homeless people down the street or the local drug dealer will have a warm place to sleep tonight. If our nation doesn’t need a wall or a door, then why do you??

Have you ever found yourself in a situation of complete frustration?   Your entire life seems to be in extreme upheaval and you just don’t know where to turn.   So many times, we walk through life comfortable and content with how our life is going.  Then, all of a sudden, life throws you a curve ball.   What do you do when a crisis hits your house?  You can decide to stay right where you are and fight this battle all on your own OR you can REFUSE to die here!  No, you may not physically die, but a spiritual death- a slow dulling of your spirit, which keeps you stuck.  

Several years ago, a crisis hit my house.  I was going about my life content with everything I had.  My life was good or so I thought.  Unfortunately, I had become so comfortable with the normal that I couldn’t see that there was a problem.  When everything blew up in my face, I had to make a choice.  My decision was that I REFUSE to die here!  I began to cry out to God for direction and revelation.  My alone time with God drastically increased!  Prayer became an utmost priority!  I spent hours searching the word for revelation.  After several months, yes, several months, God intervened and changed my situation.   

Isn’t it sad that it takes a crisis to make us cry out to God in ways we never have before?  We know that praise and worship and prayer are our weapons that we use to defeat the enemy.  However, we don’t pull those out until we are desperate and in the middle of a crisis.  Why do we have to get so overwhelmed and frustrated before we run to God and ask HIM to fix our problems?  There is a level of desperation that comes when we just don’t know what to do.  God is waiting for us to cry out in the midst of our desperation.  Psalm 91:15 says “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”  That covers it right there!  Unfortunately, we tend to make God our last resort.  We try to fix everything in our own power, when He is more than able to solve our problems and fix every situation we have.  

If you are in the middle of a crisis right now, make a choice and REFUSE to die here!  Don’t do things the way you normally would do them.  Lay down your pride and your agenda.  Let HIM have his perfect work in and through you.   Cry out to God and HE will answer!  Your solution is in Him.  Your crisis may not end as quickly as you would like, but HE will deliver you.  You just have to REFUSE TO DIE HERE!

Thanksgiving Day 2018 is tomorrow.  I have to wonder how many of us are TRULY thankful for all of the blessings in our life?  Or have we grown accustomed to the ‘just because’?  We gather with family and friends around an elaborate meal ‘just because’ that’s what we do every year on Thanksgiving.  If you are one of the few who hasn’t gotten caught up in the ‘just because’, then praise God for that.  However, for many of us, that is not the case.  We get so caught up living every day life that we get distracted from the blessings all around us.  There’s always a job to do, a meal to cook, laundry to do, a child to care for, an errand to run.  On and on the list goes, all the while, we forget to be thankful.  What if we change our perspective?  What if we begin to see everything as valuable and a blessing from God?  And not a ‘just because’.  Everyday life is so full of blessings, if we can stop looking at the ‘just because’ and see the whole, big picture.  I personally do not enjoy washing dishes.  It seems to be the last thing I want to do.  I grudgingly wash them.  Why do I wash them?  ‘Just because’ they are dirty.  What if I change my perspective to one of thankfulness?   What if I begin to be thankful that I had food to cook to feed my children to dirty those dishes that I am now washing?  I am still doing the same job, but my attitude about it has completely changed.  No longer do I see it as a ‘just because’.  It seems to me that so many in the world today live from an entitlement mentality.  “I am entitled to it ‘just because’ I’m breathing”.   Could it be that as we display and model true gratitude, true thankfulness, that society as a whole would shift?  You may not ever travel the world and influence millions of people, but if you change your corner of your world and I change my corner of mine, what will the end result be?   I would challenge you to lay down the ‘just because’ and pick up a heart of true thankfulness.  Not only for tomorrow, but for every day after that!   

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton