SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

You have probably heard the controversy over the Tim Tibow Super Bowl ad. From what I've heard about it, I think it is terrific and may even watch the game just to see it. LOL

Betty Robison has authored a neat little devotional book called Women at the Well. One of the entries in the book was made by a woman by the name of Elizabeth Mittelstaedt. She and her husband, Ditmar (interesting name), live near Frankfurt, Germany. Here is the story she tells. It made me think about the Tim Tibow ad.

The other day I chatted with a woman who tends to leave her feelings unspoken and finds it difficult to say, "I love you." As we talked, I remembered a story she told me years ago about a young pregnant woman during the final stages of World War II. At the time, diphtheria was rampant in battered Europe, and like many others, this woman had succumbed to the disease. There was no medicine available, and having this child could cost her her life.

Should I have an abortion? she asked herself repeatedly as she stared out the window of a streetcar and shivered in the crisp air that spoke of a harsh winter to come. Despite the fact that the doctor's suggestion to abort seemed the wisest course of action, a sense of foreboding gripped her heart. Do not kill, a voice seemed to say.

The young woman looked around quickly. Where did that come from? she wondered. Was it God? She dismissed the thought rapidly. How could it be? I don't even know him, she told herself and continued her internal argument. What chances does this child have to survive anyway? Does anyone care about one more baby?


But the warning not to kill echoed in her thoughts, and the young woman changed her mind and went home without having an abortion. I'm glad—because that woman was my mother, and I was that unborn child.

Many years later, after my mother had  become a Christian and told me her story, she added: "Remember, God watched over you even before you were born. God really loves you."

I've stored those words in my heart. I am special. God did care for me. Yes, he knew me even before I was born, as Psalm 139:16 says.

Isn't it amazing to think that God knew us before we were even born? God knew that dear lady. God knew Tim Tibow and He knew each one of us. How could we not love Him and want to please Him?

On a personal note, you have probably heard that my skin cancer surgery has been moved up to February 1. That's this Monday. I'll be glad to get it done and knowing so many have prayed and are praying for me is very comforting. Thank you so much.

Be sure to visit our Spiritual Sundays blog. We have 115 followers now and several follow on facebook. Thank each of you who share there and/or follow it.

ANOTHER BLOG????

SURELY NOT. SURELY I'M NOT STARTING ANOTHER BLOG. WELL - YES - I JUST GOT IT UP AND RUNNING. IT IS A BLOG JUST FOR PHOTOS. I HOPE YOU WILL CHECK IT OUT. IT'S CALLED "SHARING MY PHOTOS" (really unique, huh?) I'll be adding additional photos soon so stay tuned.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

I remember my husband using the following illustration in a sermon many years ago. I just ran across it in a book I am reading and wanted to share it with you today.

The phone rang in a high society Boston home. On the other end of the line was a son who had just returned from Viet Nam and was calling from California. His folks were the cocktail-circuit, party kind -- drinking, wife-swapping, gambling, all the other things that go with it. The boy said to his mother, "I just called to tell you that I wanted to bring a buddy home with me." His mother said, 'Sure, bring him along for a few days.' "But, mother, there is something you need to know about this boy. One leg is gone, one arm's gone, one eye's gone, and his face is quite disfigured. Is it all right if I bring him home?"

His mother said, "Bring him home for a few days." The son said, "You didn't understand me, mother. I want to bring him home to live with us." The mother began to make all kinds of excuses about embarrassment and what people would think. . . and the phone clinked.

A few hours later the police called from California to Boston. The mother picked up the phone again. The police sergeant at the other end said, "We just found a boy with one arm, one leg, one eye and a mangled face, who has just killed himself with a shot in the head. The identification papers on the body say he is your son."

- Dale E. Galloway, Rebuild Your Life

I can't even begin to imagine how that mother must have felt when she found out it was her son. Isn't it wonderful to know that if we are a child of God he knows everything about the condition we are in and he accepts us. Not only that but one day all the deformities will be taken away. I love what Joni Eareckson Tada says about it. She is so looking forward to walking, running and jumping again. But for now, she thanks God that she has the problems she has. What a great lesson for all of us.

I hope you will visit our Spiritual Sundays blog to share with us there or just to click on the links there to read what others have shared and be blessed. Here is the link: http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

I found this on Glenn Beck's site and wanted to share it.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

Author: Unknown

A message every adult should read because children are watching you

and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked... and I wanted to say thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

posted on GlennBeckClips.com

Little ones are always looking.

Have a great day!

PORTLAND, OR

Do you live in the Portland area? Do you know someone who lives in the Portland area? We have a good friend who lives there and he has just started an online business featuring restaurants in that area. I know you will want to check it out.

Hopefully it will be a great success and it will be expanded to other cities. His beautiful daughter does the intro video on the website. Be sure to click on it. Here is the url: http://yumfinder.com/

GREAT NEWS & AN AWARD

First I want to thank all my Spiritual Sunday friends for praying for me. I had skin cancer surgery scheduled for Monday. Last week I started getting a cold and I was concerned about how that would affect my surgery. In talking to the doctor's office about different things, I was told that since it was basal cell cancer that it could be taken care of topically. Why wasn't I told that before? I don't know, but I was sure happy to hear it. So, I cancelled the surgery and will be seeing a dermatologist. Another concern was when I had my mammogram a couple of weeks ago, I had to go for a follow up mammogram and an ultrasound. I just got home from doing that, and was told everything was OK. I don't need to go back until next year to have my yearly exam. Now I'm ready to celebrate.


On top of this good news, I just received an award from a new friend I recently met through the Spiritual Sundays blog. Her name is Audrinna. Thank you so much, Audrinna for this beautiful award. It is really special. Her blog is called Audrinna World. I hope you will go visit her there. Here's the link: http://aurinnnworld.blogspot.com/  I am supposed to pass this award on to five people. I thought and thought about who to pass it on to and there were so many people that I couldn't possibly choose 5 so I want to pass it on to all my angel blogging friends. You know who you are. I really want each of you to have this award.

PLAYING CHURCH

Did you ever play church when you were a child? I didn't, but my children did. I guess that's the reason the following quote from Anne Ortlund caught my attention. Here is that article.

When I was little we used to play church. We'd get chairs in rows, fight over who'd be preacher, vigorously lead the hymn singing, and generally have a great carnal time.

The aggressive kids naturally wanted to be up front, directing or preaching. The quieter ones were content to sit and be entertained by the up-fronters.

Occasionally we'd get mesmerized by a true sensationalistic crowd-swayer--like the girl who said, "Boo! I'm the Holy Ghost!" But in general, if the upfronters were pretty good, they could hold their audience quite a while. If they weren't so good, eventually the kids would drift off to play something else--like jump rope or jacks.

Now that generation has grown up, but most of them haven't changed too much. Every Sunday they still play church. They line up in rows for the entertainment. If it's pretty good, their church may grow. If it's not too hot, eventually they'll drift off to play something else--like yachting or wife swapping.

- Anne Ortlund, Up with Worship

So what is the "point" of this post? I think we need to examine ourselves and decide if we are serious about loving and worshipping God and giving Him our lives, or just playing church, or just playing at religion.

I hope you will visit our Spiritual Sundays blog and share with us there or just go there, click on the links and be inspired by what others have shared. Click HERE to go there. I'm so pleased that over 100 people now follow that blog. My prayer is that God will continue to use it in this new year to bless many people.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I'm hoping and praying for a good year for all my blogging friends.