I Stand for Israel

Halloween

I am going to take a stand that is not popular.                                     No Halloween.

3 days ago, I was walking through one of those "we have it all" stores for a few groceries, when 2 elementary school-age girls past me with this year's Halloween costumes. Racks & shelves of costumes, candy, decorations surrounded us.

To be honest, our family "did" Halloween.

When my son was a preschooler, I'd invite 2-3 of his friends over for cookie baking on Halloween. We'd cut out pumpkins- by the time we were done, there was flour everywhere! While the cookies baked, we read stories. Then the mothers returned for cookies & milk with us. It was fun & Halloween was never mentioned.

But things changed when my son started school. Halloween was a big deal & I gave in. Except costumes were homemade. Later, in private school, they wore costumes of important people. And they had to tell the class about that person.

Churches began having "Harvest" parties, but the trimmings were the same: candy, decorations & costumes. (No witches, fairies or ghosts allowed.) The games kept the kids off the streets, but it still was Halloween.

Time past & I continued to give coins for Unicef & healthy, wrapped goodies for the little trick or treaters until my son was in high school. But those little ones grow up, too, & true to the night, pull pranks. I can't count the times I cleaned up smashed pumpkins & soap off my windows.

Then I discovered a phenomenon. As the Halloween items were bought, Christmas gifts and decorations replaced them. (And maybe, one small shelf for Thanksgiving.) Along with that, attitudes were being affected. My staff's behaviors began to change. They were becoming irritable, short with one another, & grumpy. Their emotions simmered & intensified. Because my staff were caregivers, their patients were also affected.

It took me a while to figure this out, but the sight of Halloween stuff in the stores- especially as the shelves were emptying- triggered thoughts of Christmas. My staff was counting the weeks, the number of paychecks & trying to figure out how to buy all the things "needed" for Christmas. They were frustrated & becoming depressed.

After I recognized what was actually happening, I developed a plan & used it effectively for years. I presented an inservice called "The Cinderella Syndrome" around Halloween time, & instituted a Celebration Tree.

"The Cinderella Syndrome" discussed the illusions of life, the false expectations of Christmas and their effects on them as individuals, and to those around them. Each year, I challenged them to change one unrealistic expectation.

Uncle Joe is always going to get drunk & ruin the family's get together. Why are you going year after year only to be miserable? Your children want this & that, but a week after Christmas, they quit playing with them. Maybe new sleds & mittens for all & sledding together as a family would be a better option. Rather than trying to buy for everyone, you could exchange names with your families. Traditions had to begin somewhere. Why not start a new one?

Our new tradition was placing leaves on a 6 ft. paper tree to recognize good deeds. At first, putting up a paper tree, like in preschool, was seen as... yep! Childish. But everyone wants to be recognized & "named." As the leaves began filling the tree, some were figuring out what good deed to do, so they'd get their name on the tree. I laughed a lot behind closed doors, but most important, I heard & saw behaviors change.

Once Thanksgiving was over, we took down the paper tree & began Christmas decorating contests, & special events. The staff's attitude remained positive & the patients stayed in the spirit of the season.

All this flashed through my mind, as I watched those 2 little girls chatter about their costumes.

Halloween stems from pagan practices, but I won't even go there. Simply said, I strongly believe we should not have Halloween. And that includes the false substitutes.

The store racks & shelves become empty of all that Halloween stuff- so somebody buys them... many somebodies. In this economy, money spent on costumes & all the Halloween candy & decorations, could be better spent. We have hungry people- children to seniors, the homeless; and many, who are barely surviving on small wages, that need help. That probably includes some of the costume buyers.

There are other ways to have fun! Making popcorn balls, playing charades, having a picnic on the living room floor, playing Monopoly... as a family. Even putting up construction paper trees that say I love you & thank you.

Churches could have a family potluck on Halloween night with a non-Halloween movie & pj's encouraged for the 2-10 year old children. Or make pumpkin cookies or pies to share with those who can't afford "treats" or seniors living alone. Or giving the money usually spent on "Harvest" parties to local agencies to keep the food banks filled.

Recognizing what we do have, remembering the many people involved with bringing the harvest to our tables, and spending time with our children will produce wonderful memories for a lifetime! I think that's the new tradition to start!

Ministry Appreciation Month

Encourager, teacher, pastor's wife, mentor & friend:

Jodie, 


Thanks for all you do- from giving hugs to teaching Hebrew, SaltKeepers, traditions and crafts; to critiquing. You are appreciated & are a blessing to me.  


Blessed be He, who provides us with Godly women to encourage us. Amen.

Great Wake-up

Began my day, as usual, checking e-mails. Much to my delight, they included "Constance, Congratulations!"

I have placed in the final 100 in a short story writing contest. 25 winners will be chosen by the 2nd week of October.

Whether I win or not, it was great seeing "...your excellent writing..."!

Maybe I should get a tee-shirt with that on it.   : >)

Will let you know, Connie

It's All Decided

      I'd made up my mind... no books. I will continue writing short stories & articles, but a book is no longer an option. Then...

      A sweet young lady said, "God knows we are a forgetful people!"

      "A Forgetful People" I couldn't get that thought out my mind. For days it hung there 24/7 waiting for a response. Finally, in prayer, the answer came before I asked the question.

      "The Lord spoke his word to Connie. He said, 'This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Write in a book everything that I tell you.'" (Jeremiah 30:1-2 with name changed, God's Word Translation)

      Thus, I have been preparing my heart, writing, studying, & researching:

A Forgetful People: a Study of Remembering is written to increase our awareness of God and how He expects us to walk in His ways. 

Using a combination of storytelling and scripture, we look at items in my home- silver boxes, Pogo, a crystal frog, bees and apples, a wildflower collage, teacups, a basket and snowflakes- to learn how simple things can bring us into God's presence, promises, provisions, and pleasure. 

      Snoopy usually writes "Once upon a... The End." I'm already further along than that!

      A crucial need for any Christian writer is prayer support. My 25 prayer team members will keep me free of distraction, focused and accountable. Their prayers will flow into the golden bowls of heaven. (See Rev. 5:8) The second team are reviewers for writing content and for scriptural accuracy. I am blessed to have such faithful support.

      My own heartstrings are reaching into the heavens for guidance.

      To keep you updated, I will be journaling this writing adventure; and I am planning on providing a free e-book in January to give you a peek at "remembering". 

      If you'd like to join in praying for A Forgetful People, send me an e-mail at (constancegilbert@gmail.com) with your address & I'll send you a reminder bookmark. 

~ ~ ~

      Two of my short stories were published recently: "Morning Glory" in Lori Wagner's A Patchwork of Freedom and "Oy, the Rust in the Golden Years" in Lynn Johnston's Lessons of Life.

      More of my writing can be found here:

www.4Him2U.com and Connie's Coda at                        www.positivelyfeminine.org/Beautiful/beautiful.htm

A Tiny Book

Do you want to stimulate your little gray cells? Do you want to make a change in your life that matters? Do want to grow close to the Lord?

If so, get The Devil's Inbox by Barbara Laymon.

Written in the style of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, this tiny book is a collection of e-mails from the devilish Anesthesia, Anasty 1 for short, to Termite N. Festor or gnawingirl.

Anasty 1 is attempting to guide her young tempter-in-training through her first assignment ~ leading a young woman astray . . . away from God.

This tiny book- only 123 pages- is filled with insights that will leave you pondering and re-considering your life choices. A quick read that won't end with the last written word.

Recommendation/Book Review:

Thin Places, a memoir by Mary E. DeMuth is being released today by Zondervan Publishing. I had the privilege of reading an advance copy.
It isn't a book for everyone. But if you've had a life of heartaches, Mary's search through her past may take you to the “thin places” also.
She removes the multi-layered masks of her life so you, the reader, can see how her heartaches of abuse, abandonment, addiction and more are in the on-going process of God's healing love. She calls the “thin places” those “snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corner of our world, where we might just catch a glimpse of eternity. They are aha moments, the beautiful realizations.”
It is not a happy-ever-after book in the sense of being sugar-coated with total, instant healing. It is a long, winding road of hope, as she puts it: (of) my titantic struggle with God's love for me...He loves me, this I know. And yet I struggle. Because I don't measure up. My mind says yes, but my heart says,”He will love me ONLY IF I...”
Sound familiar? It did to me.
Mary's deep love of God flows throughout her unforgettable story. It may be just what you need to give you hope... to bring you closer to the Lover of your Soul.

No t-shirt

Ended up with my right hand in a splint due to infection. Reminds me of a poem called "Shelf Life," It talks of those times when your confined- usually at home- and you're unable to do what was planned. Whatever the reason, we're put on the shelf for a reason.We need to be contend and rest, but that's not easy for most of us.

Well, this chipped cup called "me" is on the shelf & trying to rest. I have a tendency toward depression at times like this. My head and heart understand, but my emotions aren't matching up. I need to keep upbeat music on, keep my blinds open to the sunshine, read encouraging books, share my need with a close friend and, if it warms up, go for a walk.

I also need to keep my cup clean- no negative thoughts. Wash them right out!

When I look back, my shelf life times really weren't very long. It just seemed that way at the time. So I know I'll be filled and overflowing in no time.

How do you cope with your "shelf life" times?

Rejection

I just visited a website with t-shirts for writers. One design proclaimed being rejected!

As a writer, I've received a variety of rejections. As a child then an adult, I've been rejected. So what is there to proclaim, like a walking billboard, about rejection? I had to think on it for a bit.

With the wisdom of reaching the "golden years," I've decied rejection isn't all bad. It is an opportunity!

I will be a student for as long as I am able to read. I love learning new things. In fact, I am taking Beginning Biblical Hebrew so I can study scripture better. I am learning new things everyday via the Internet. including new ways to use this cyber-space technology.

So rejection can be an opportunity to learn, to tighten up my writing, to recognize what my readers are searching for, to fine tune my submissions.

Finally, I appreciate rejections of my writing, especially when they say why, versus nothing. (I have to admit, I don't like the unknown. Tell me why then I can improve.)

Life's rejections can be harder to cope with.One thing to understand is they are not always personal. Sometimes it is just the wrong time... the wrong place... or someone is having a bad day that's not associated with you at all.

One rejection that knock the wind out of my sails was when I was fired for being too compassionate. Excuse me? Isn't that what Hospice nursing is all about? Once I could stand back & be more objective, I realized why I was actually fired; and that three other good nurses had been fired in the few months I'd been there. We were all due for raises. We were a means of balancing the budget. As long the administrator could keep hiring, she was paying low salaries. And her means of coping with complaints was either "she's new" or by firing that person to keep the client happy. It didn't matter whether the complaint was legitimate or not.

Who actually had the problem? The administrator. I was a good Hospice nurse. Also I had administrative experience and may have been seen as a threat. Finally, I was hired to solve a problem that had occurred with physicians at various hospitals. I had solved that issue at each hospital.

Once I calmed down, my sadness was for my patients, who would never know why I didn't return. As for me,
another opportunity came, which resulted in a better paying job with set hours and much less stress.

If I am rejected for being too compassionate, so be it. That's a trait I want!

Being rejected, as a writer, is part of the "dues" most writers pay so maybe I'll consider getting one of those t-shirts. What do you think?

At the Well

The walk to the well is usually a time of catching up on the village news, but I left early this morning so I wouldn’t meet the others. As Mary’s pregnancy is more evident, the barbed remarks have increased. This morning, of all mornings, I just couldn’t face them. My tears won’t stop. I am afraid for Mary. It is too close to her time to be traveling all the way to Bethlehem.

Yes, I know Joseph will take care of her, Lord, but couldn’t you have delayed the census a little while? Is this old lady’s request too much for you, Almighty G-d? Would it have too hard to have Mary’s needs considered? After all, she sings with great joy that you have chosen her. Yet you let her travel? Have mercy, G-d on this old woman. Forgive my arrogance. I just love my granddaughter and fear for her and the baby she’ll soon deliver. Lord, can you give me a sign… a little one perhaps? To show me that Mary is well?

The tears continued to flow, as I neared the well.

Oy, at least I can draw the water without the other woman smiling while looking at one another with their “I know the real story” expressions. I don’t even understand… how could they?

“Woman, why are you weeping?”

Frightened, I turned to see a Roman soldier looking down at me.

What does one say to a Roman? He knows nothing about women’s trials or the promised Messiah.

“Forgive an old lady, Sir. I am worried about my granddaughter traveling all the way to Bethlehem for the census.”

“So you weep? I thought you Jews trusted your god to take care of everything!” He turned and marched off laughing.

I sank to my knees and wept bitterly.

My G-d, forgive me. A sign… I ask for a sign and you send me a Roman soldier. Oy, after all these years, this old woman still doubts . . . still doesn’t put all her trust in you. Forgive this old woman once again. You alone know why Mary must make this journey. Why she is with child that’s not Joseph’s; and yet he trusts you and takes her into his home. My G-d, my G-d, help this old woman to understand . . . to trust in you in all things. Until the Messiah comes, I am your servant.

Little did I know that as I wept at the well, Mary, too, was weeping as she knelt in the hay before the manger that cradled her newborn baby. A son, as G-d had said. To be named Jesus, as Joseph had been told. Yes, Mary wept with both joy and fear as she pondered all that was and was to come.

This great-grandmother will not live to see this little one grow into a man. But I will serve the Lord faithfully all my remaining days, as I promised that quiet morning at the well.

~ ~ ~

This writer spent the birthday of the Messiah at home alone and also in tears. Illness kept me from my family and I wept for understanding… for the loss of memory-building moments with my grandchildren and son.
I, too, asked for a sign that God was with me for it didn’t feel that way. No Roman soldier appeared. No sign… just the loneliness, and the feeling of being rejected.

The next day, I asked the Lord, “What was I suppose to learn throughout the day of tears?” He gave me the story of the anxious great-grandmother, who, even though she loved the Lord, struggled with the unknown. Her fears were real. For Jesus, who left His throne to be born frail and helpless in a stable, and came to deliver the news of hope and forgiveness, was rejected and despised. What loneliness He must have felt as He hung upon the cross for us!

Then, like that great-grandmother, I knelt at the Well of Living Water and prayed, My G-d, forgive me. After all these years, this old woman still doubts . . . still doesn’t place all her trust in you. Forgive this old woman once again. My G-d, help this woman to trust in you in all circumstances and for all things. And until the Messiah comes again, I am your servant.

[Christmas 2009]

Mary kept all hese things to herself; holding them dear, deep within her. (Luke 2:19b The Message)

Child Within

a gasp, a cry
an exhausted mother's sigh
a father's teardrops
a heavenly umbilical cord cut and tied

a sweet aroma of fresh hay
a tiny gurgle as rosebud lips find milk
a whispered prayer
a naming as God commanded

a squeak of rafters as birds and mice gather
a gentle breeze to fan the fire
a clip and clop of a donkey's feet
a quiet baa-aa and a gentle moo

a ray of starlight
a flutter of angel wings
a silence
a moment realizing God's sacrifice- His only Son

a yip of a sheepdog on th hillside
an owl's hoot as he hunts
a rowdy laugh from the inn
a braying camel on the dusty road

a mother and babe sleep
a father watches
an angel guards
a world waits

May you be blessed with a quietness in your soul on this special day.

Selah...

Shalom, Connie

Season of Miracles

The eight day Hanukkah celebration is drawing to a close and I have been blessed because of it.


Just a glance at the menorhea/hanukkiah causes me to pause and reflect upon God's many gifts to us. Hannukah, also known as the Feast of Lights or the Season of Miracles has been a perfect Advent time of preparation for me. As a child, Jesus would have lit the candles and spun the dreidel with His family. That thought draws me closer to Him- a man of perfection, who left His throne to be born as a helpless baby to an ordinary couple so
He could teach and later give Himself for us.
In the game, each letter has a meaning:


nun = you get none
shin = put one in
gimmel = take all
hey = you get half





For me they also mean: nun = none of my sin will matter as I walk with Jesus
shin = add a blessing & many more will return
gimmel = Jesus gave His all for me... for you
hey = I may be only able to give half,
but Jesus gives no less than 100%





As I remove the golden foil around my geld to sample it's chocolate delight, I know the streets of gold and a mansion await me. When He calls me home, I will be forever rejoicing and singing His praises with the angels!





For now, I am content to savor my chocolate coins and to renew my promise to walk and talk with Him.

Good mornin' Lord, It's so nice to meet You.

Good mornin' Lord, it's so nice to know

That You'll walk with me

And talk with me

Where ever I may go.

Well, good mornin' Lord, good mornin' Lord!

Selah...

Shalom, Connie

HANUKKAH

This evening at sundown, the first candle or light for the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah is lit. And I am excited to celebrate, for the first time, a special feast that scripture tells us Jesus also celebrated. (See John 10:22; note also the miracles that occur in chapters 9 and 10.)
The Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah has also been called the Season of Miracles. It celebrates the reclaiming, cleansing & re-dedication of the temple with 8 days of festive remembrance.
Because this is new to me, I have been researching & asking questions that have taught me more exciting things about the Lord. I'd like to share with you!
First, I'd never caught the significance found in John 10:22. I didn't connect "Feast of Dedication" as being Hanukkah. I've loved learning that & sharing with my grandchildren that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah also. We're going to play the dreidel game tonight like He did!
As we read the story of Hanukkah's coming to be and discussed the monorah, it was fun listening to my three and one-half year old put it all together. She, of course, knows the song "This Little Light of Mine," and easily put it together that even one little candle can light up our world.
As a Messianic believer, the tallest candle, which is lit first & lights all the others, is the perfect picture of Christ, our Light of the World. By the way, some Advent candle wreaths place the Christ Candle taller also.
One thing before I tell you what happened that required the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple, you need to know that the purification process of the oil for the temple's menorah required 8 days.
Now, let's go back in time. Alexander the Great in Greece is dying. He gives his kingdom to four of his best men. One of those four is Antiochus Epiphanies; his heir, enters Isreal kills 40,000 with no remorse, & sent out an edict to end circumcision, reading of scripture & worship.
Horrible consequences resulted. Then he defiled the Temples of God.
After many deaths & atrocities, Judah Maccabee led the battle as directed by God. A small band of men against 105,000 or more, but they were for fighting for the Lord. The undefeated Syrian army was defeated as God promised!
The Temple was rebuilt and cleansed; the altar made brand new; & one flask of oil found.
The menorah was lit with but one day of oil & remain bright for the EIGHT days of celebrating the defeat of the bad guys.
I can imagine the shock, horror & surprise of the Syrian army as they went down to defeat by a small group of ordinary men... with an extraordinary God! And can you invasion the miracles that must have been occurring to protect that small band of men?
A picture of God's mighty power, His love for His people & His caring about a small detail of oil for the menorah.

Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the Universe,
Who commanded us to live as children
of the Light through Yeshua our Messiah.

Wonderous Happenings In Spite of Technology

Live certainly is not dull & boring here in the NW.

Today was spent with multiple computer clitches, but I will not let them win!

4Him2U, the online Christian magazine I edit, is nearing its 2nd anniversary & we are adding new writers.

I have been having health concerns, but I refuse to let them stop me from fulfilling my call to write and to encourage others. Today, more than ever, I re-state my mission statement: to encourage joy in the spiritually oppressed through my written and spoken words... actions, too!

I am thankful for a new friend, who moved into my apt. complex a few months ago, she is an answer to prayer. Sandi & I share a love for the Lord and as 2 single ladies, we now can spend time together sharing that love as well as meals, shopping and movies. For those of you that live alone, you now how precious that is! And although we are in separate buildings, they are connected by a breezeway. Weather doesn't keep us apart.

Life is a bit stressful, but as Maxine says, "If it wasn't for stress, I wouldn't have any energy!"

Selah ~

Shalom,

Connie

Jumping for joy or...

I'm feeling a bit silly this evening. I have a brain that's going full speed ahead while my body is wanting to curl up with a good book under my warm comforter.
Maybe I'm not a clown... maybe I'm feeling like a bear ready to hibernate for the winter?!
Can NOT do that!
So many projects await: I'm facilitating a Bible study on Philippians, writing a study on remembering God through the simple stuff of life, preparing to edit and/or write some new e-books, returning to my network of friends now that my computer is online, learning Biblical Hebrew, attending a study on "Spirit-filled Temperaments, preparing some submissions, making healthy soup once per week for my neighbors (my reach out & touch ministry), and trying to stay away from the nasty-germ- patrol trying to pass that ole' influenza around.

Sometime, in between things, I need to clean my apartment, find a way to pay for my medicine (I fell into the donut hole!), get to the post office, do laundry, and clean out my garden box. N0-oo, I already did that!

Just the basic stuff for a retired lady with nothing but time on her hands. Right! No! This body may be tired, but the Lord has others plans, so duh, dah! I gotta get movin!

Shalom,

Connie

Happy to be Back

A new computer + DSL ---> a happy dance!

It will take me a while to catch up, but I'm committed to returning to my network of friends and favorite sites after almost a year of a dead computer.

Meanwhile, here's my quick, brief update:

• Have had 2 stories published ~ "The Calming Storm" in Hope Whispers & "Maytag Memories" in Cupcakes on the Counter (both available at Amazon).
• I am writing a Bible study ~ A Forgetful People: a study in Remembering prompted by the cantor at my Messianic Hebrew tradition church saying, "God knows we are a forgetful people."
• 4Him2u & my column in Positively Feminine are 2 years old... & I thought I couldn't do it!
• Won a regional writing contest last October (2008) but my story was rejected this year. Oh well, those rejections help the head and ego from swelling too big.
• Spent 2 weeks vacationing in Hawaii during May & fell in love with Oahu.
• Began Stone Soup night here at Pilot Butte Retirement Center (PBRC). Everyone brings something to add to the pot & I make the soup. It means one evening of healthy food & not eating alone. Around 20 seniors have participated. It is a part of my friendship building ministry as is...
• being the library & computer lady here at PBRC.
• Working on needlework projects for Hanukkah/Christmas
• Participating in the Muse Online Writers Conference this week.
• Continue to write & edit "The Encourager," a snail mail newsletter for the chronically ill.

Shalom,

Connie

You Are Not Forgotten

Just a brief note to say I am expecting to be back soon. I have been without Internet access since last October. So it's new computer time. As soon as I'm up & running, I'll be back.

9/29/09 My computer is in route. Back soon!

Book Review:

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

A small, but mighty book, The Noticer is a quick read. Andy Andrews is a good storyteller and spins a pleasant tale about a man with an old battered suitcase, who "notices things."
He appears throughout a small town sharing with folks the things he (yep!) notices, which leads people to rethink what's going on in their lives.

You can read this book superficially and just enjoy the tale
OR
you can stop and ponder what your life is all about and decide if any changes are needed.

I read The Noticer in one afternoon, but I have been mulling it over ever since then. As I have reflected upon the lives of each character in the story, I have seen some resemblances in my own life. And that's opened my eyes and mind to see myself as not measuring up . . . not being the person that the Lord meant for me to be. I am planning on some life changes real soon!

I strongly recommend The Noticer to everyone 16 years of age and older. Get a copy and take a journey with the old man who notices things and isn't shy about sharing them!

Book Review: Through the Storm: A real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World.

from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Lynne Spears, mother of Jamie Lynne, Bryan and Britney Spears, tells what it is really like when your children are reaching for fame and fortune. Because I do not keep up with contemporary music, Briteny Spears was only a name to me. So I felt that I would be an unbiased reader.
I found the story of Lynne's marriage and children to be told very defensively. Her challenge of telling the truth was not convincing. Nor was the faith that she claimed carried her through the tough times. It seemed like an afterthought. I don't wish to be judgemental. Her faith just didn't come through as life-sustaining, thus it was not an encouragement to me.

The more I read, the more biased I felt. I could understand how her co-dependent behaviors added to her problems being married to an alcoholic. But being victims of multiple unscrupulous managers, agents etc.? Once, maybe twice. But as a college graduate and business owner, could she really have been that naive? Blaming it on her small town, Southern upbringing was a poor excuse for allowing injustices to go on over and over again.

While I don't doubt that she loves her children, my impression is that she needs to accept more responsibility for her actions or lack of action. By the time I got to the end of her book, my main thought was that it never would have been published without the name Briteny Spears. (Thomas Nelson: was the dollar or her story the purpose of printing this book? Sorry, that's where my thoughts led me.)truth

While reading it during dinner one evening, I asked a young waitress to tell me her impression of Briteny Spears. She responded that Briteny really messed up her life, but" she's trying to put it back together again." I then asked if she'd like to read the book. "Yes!" was her quick reply, but then she reads all the tabloids, too.

So is this book much better? I'd like to think that it was more truthful. The writing itself was mediocre; but most important, there is no real take away value for the reader.

Britney fans will be disappointed, as it is her mother's story, not hers. Mothers with rising stars may appreciate a view of what's to be gained in a tabloid world. Maybe, you need to read it for yourself & decide. But his a book that I can not recommend.

Selah,

Connie

Election Thoughts

A writer friend has posted a thought provoking challenge at http://www.rtsponderings.wordpress.com. Scroll down to Oct. 8th's guest writer, Les James' thoughts "If My Bible Were..."

I must admit, I was found guilty. Of what? Of being fearful and anxious about our upcoming election. Because I live in Oregon, my ballot is on my desk waiting for decisions to be made even though I am not happy with our choices. I am concerned about the effect of rising food costs, gas prices, health care, etc.

As one of many on a fixed income, I am constantly having to find ways to survive when my medical costs take more than half of my income. I am seeking inexpensive, creative ways to give gifts to my grandchildren, family and friends. I am a writer with a zero budget... even buying ink for my printer is difficult. Life is not easy.

Then I read Les ' challenge. I am not practicing what I say I believe. My faith is the foundation of my life. Yet my mind is taking me into areas of thinking that are not compatible with that foundation.

Nevertheless, I will not give up the freedom to vote. I will sit down and read the resources I've gathered for my decision-making process. But FIRST I will ask the Lord for His guidance.

My life is evidence of God's interventions and answers to prayer. From giving me a baby to raise for Him to the basics of having enough money to buy food to eat, gas for my car, and medication to keep me from being a burden upon my family or society.

Like the Children of Israel, I moan and groan, and complain. Too quickly I forget how He has provided guidance, protection and manna.

An old song says, "Get On Board Little Children..." I am. I am getting back to my foundation of faith ~ for it has not failed me. I will fill out and mail in my ballot. And then, I'll leave the running of the USA to the winners of the election.

Why? Because it has nothing to do with campaign promises. God is in control of this world that He created. Therefore, my actions must reflect my faith and I must set aside my fears and anxiety by "Letting Go & Letting God."

Thanks Les for the wake up call!