The decline of a nation that claims it stands for justice...

I couldn't help but notice some of the words that President Obama effortlessly 

spoke during his Inaugural speech yesterday...

things like:

"Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune. "

AND

" We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American, she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own."

{btw...that little girl is only free AFTER she is born.  

She is not free..or equal..or an American while in her mother's womb. Not to mention the part -"in the eyes of God but ALSO IN OUR OWN".}

AND

"We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity."

{DO we?  Really?}

AND

"Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm. "

{This does not include unborn children, either}

He spoke of 

"human dignity and justice"

And he ended with

"Thank you, God Bless you, and may He forever bless these United States of America."

In light of today's Anniversary of Roe v. Wade I can't help but wonder if that very same God

may, in fact, take offense to having his name brought up in this speech

when He so obviously has not been included in some pretty important decisions our country has made.

How dare we ask Him to bless what we have so selfishly taken upon our own to decide...

when we have killed what He has created- 

do we really have a right to ask Him to BLESS US FOREVER?

There are a lot of things that politicians and the media speak of that I do not feel qualified to speak up on 

but this one thing I know...

the continual legalization and slaughter of innocent babies is not okay.  

I sit with young women weekly who regret their choice to end the life of their unborn babies.

They mourn what could have been...what should have been.

They have nightmares

and guilt

and depression

and contemplate suicide

They want to turn back time and have a do-over.

This country that "promotes" human dignity and justice

has failed these young women by giving them the choice of abortion...

and then leaving them to pick up the pieces of regret for years.

I don't often rant about current issues here...

but this one hits close to my heart.  

Don't believe the lies that abortion doesn't hurt anyone.

Don't believe that once it is done, it is over.

Today...on an Anniversary that should be anything but celebrated,

let's not ask God to bless us,

but rather ask Him to show us a way out of the mess we've gotten ourselves into.

It's never too late to do the right thing...

but let's stop trying to cover over it by asking to be blessed forever instead.

Interesting reading here
and here

THIS is what happens when a Nation turns their back..

It's time to stop celebrating our freedoms and rights

and start standing up for what IS right

It's time to stop turning a blind eye to the reality 

and get real and honest.

It's time to stop...

Holding me steady...

I re-read Psalm 63...searching for the phrase that holds me

the words that push me to be what I'm not

Steady

And the thing is, before I can be steady-

there are those other words...

"I hold on to You for dear life"

And even when I think I am holding on for dear life,

obviously, I'm not...

because some days I feel anything but steady.

Some days when I lean too heavy into the unknowns of the future

when I feel a burden to say too much to someone who doesn't want to hear

when I carry deep a feeling that all is not right with those I love....

on those days

days like today...

I need a reminder to let go of what I'm carrying in my hands

and hold on to You for dear life...

And sometimes I have to repeat the words

even when I don't feel the words

Because I want to live the words 

and sometimes living just takes mental practice...

And so I repeat...

"God—you’re my God!

    I can’t get enough of you!

I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,

    traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,

    drinking in your strength and glory.

In your generous love I am really living at last!

    My lips brim praises like fountains.

I bless you every time I take a breath;

    My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;

    I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!

If I’m sleepless at midnight,

    I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Because you've always stood up for me,

    I’m free to run and play.

I hold on to you for dear life,

    and you hold me steady as a post...'

Psalm 63

New Year Praise...

2013



 

For the last few years I've started the New Year asking for a word to focus on...

what I hear is usually something that I have either been

working on

or

NEED to be working on.

 

2011 was the year of 

JOY

 

And throughout the year there were many times that I was reminded to choose joy,

rather than

 complain

or despair

or worry

 

Not that I always chose JOY...

but I knew it was the response GOD wanted me to make into a habit.

 

2012 was the year of

TRUST

 

and as I look back now and can see the whole year from the other side,

I realize that God was preparing me, way back in January, for many changes and unknowns.

 

There were many times that I had to reread the scripture above in Proverbs..

I especially came to like how The Message worded these verses.

 

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God!"

 

Many a day I needed to remember that, while things felt out of control to me,

God had not turned His eyes away from me or my family...

and I could TRUST Him to handle all of the unknowns.

 

When Nick announced he wanted to be a Marine

 

and when

Alex announced he would wed his love during Nick's 10 day leave

 

 

or Emma sat behind the wheel of my car for the first time

 

Then...and many, many more times throughout the year

I needed to remember to TRUST God's hand and His heart for us.

 

So this year it was time to ask for a new word..

and the word that kept coming to me was

PRAISE

 

One never knows how many changes one year can bring...

I suppose if I really thought about it I'd find a lot of reasons to be

anxious or worry or question...

But since it helps nothing to borrow from what

I don't yet need to deal with, I won't.

 

Today is enough

and today I choose to PRAISE

And I'll do my best to choose it again

tomorrow

and throughout the coming year

 

Even when things don't make sense

when I am surprised by new changes

or shocked

or afraid

or concerned

or unsure

or lonely...

 

I'll choose to PRAISE the One who orchestrates all of life

and all that comes with it

I already know there will be days I won't want to Praise...

and I know that there may very well be good reason why

this year's word is PRAISE..

because, chances are, there will come a day when

something unexpected will force me

to have to trust that God sees something I can not..

and it will only be because I've made a decision to PRAISE,

that I'll be able to...

 

for all of these reasons,

and ones I've yet to know...

 

2012 had some pretty hard things to swallow for our family...

but there were great days

and moments that we will share together in our memories

We learned to be flexible

to breathe deep in the moment

and we learned a little bit more about what it means to

TRUST

 

But now...

"I hereby declare the year 2013 to be

the Hershey house's year of

PRAISE"

 

"Are you listening, dear people?

I’m getting ready to speak;

This is God, your God,

speaking to you...

Spread for me a banquet of praise,
serve High God a feast of kept promises,
And call for help when you’re in trouble—
I’ll help you, and you’ll honor me.

Time’s up for playing fast and
loose with me.
I’m ready to pass sentence,
and there’s no help in sight!
It’s the praising life that honors me.
As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
I’ll show you my salvation.”

Psalm 50