"Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side, and bend to every necessity of our brethren."
Monday, February 18, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
A book I am reading
Late last fall, I went to a HUGE book fair and happened to pick up a book called Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage by Mark Gungor. It sat on my shelf until this past Friday night when I decided we needed to laugh more in our marriage.
After looking at the table of contents, I turned to a chapter called "What's Sex Got to Do With it?" I wish I could write out the entire chapter here. As soon as I began reading silently, I laughed, which meant I had to read it out loud to Paul as well. So, we had a fun Friday evening with me reading this chapter out loud to my husband. The further I progressed, the more "Wows" came out of each of our mouths. We both agree that every person needs to read this book, single or married, and especially young people. I want to take some time in the next few posts to share some of the author's words and let blog readers ponder them.
"There are some so uptight about this subject (sex) that they refuse to even say the word "sex"! Most pastors prefer to use the word "intimacy." I've often wondered if it's not this Pollyanna approach that is most responsible for such statistics as 50 percent of Christian men are involved in pornography; Christian teenagers having sex and getting pregnant with as much frequency as those outside the Church; adultery between Church members becoming an everyday occurrence; or sexually transmitted diseases pouring into Christian families. Maybe this is happening with greater frequency because we can't say "sex"!" (p. 144)
"The early Christian church was composed exclusively of Jews. Over time, however, those outside of Judaism (the Gentiles) outnumbered the Jews and the Church became predominantly non-Jewish. As the Church moved forward without their Jewish brothers, we lost something truly vital to understanding God's plan and meaning for marriage: we lost thousands of years of Jewish tradition in which sex was viewed as something wonderful in God's sight.
As heathens turned from their pagan ways and joined the Church, they knew sex only from the perspective of lust, debauchery, perversion, selfishness, and even violence! Heathens used sex in every sickening way of which they could conceive. When people openly repented of their sins and were baptized, sexual sins where the ones most frequently confessed. Viewing sex as something wonderful stayed with the Jews, however, and the Christian Church struggled with that concept for centuries.
History shows that the early leaders of the Church---priests and even popes---were married and had children. Early on, marriage and physical lover were viewed as good. But as time passed and the Church moved further and further away from her Jewish roots, she began to view sex as something pagan and dirty.
The negative view of sex that has percolated during most of Christian history was never part of Jewish thought."
I won't go on, but trust me, Mark Gungor fleshes out his writing with hits and humor that bring to light the realities of how we have been duped in our thinking about the different aspects of marriage, AND how our Jewish roots shed much light on how things really should be done. I look forward to more fun evenings of laughing our way to a better marriage!
After looking at the table of contents, I turned to a chapter called "What's Sex Got to Do With it?" I wish I could write out the entire chapter here. As soon as I began reading silently, I laughed, which meant I had to read it out loud to Paul as well. So, we had a fun Friday evening with me reading this chapter out loud to my husband. The further I progressed, the more "Wows" came out of each of our mouths. We both agree that every person needs to read this book, single or married, and especially young people. I want to take some time in the next few posts to share some of the author's words and let blog readers ponder them.
"There are some so uptight about this subject (sex) that they refuse to even say the word "sex"! Most pastors prefer to use the word "intimacy." I've often wondered if it's not this Pollyanna approach that is most responsible for such statistics as 50 percent of Christian men are involved in pornography; Christian teenagers having sex and getting pregnant with as much frequency as those outside the Church; adultery between Church members becoming an everyday occurrence; or sexually transmitted diseases pouring into Christian families. Maybe this is happening with greater frequency because we can't say "sex"!" (p. 144)
"The early Christian church was composed exclusively of Jews. Over time, however, those outside of Judaism (the Gentiles) outnumbered the Jews and the Church became predominantly non-Jewish. As the Church moved forward without their Jewish brothers, we lost something truly vital to understanding God's plan and meaning for marriage: we lost thousands of years of Jewish tradition in which sex was viewed as something wonderful in God's sight.
As heathens turned from their pagan ways and joined the Church, they knew sex only from the perspective of lust, debauchery, perversion, selfishness, and even violence! Heathens used sex in every sickening way of which they could conceive. When people openly repented of their sins and were baptized, sexual sins where the ones most frequently confessed. Viewing sex as something wonderful stayed with the Jews, however, and the Christian Church struggled with that concept for centuries.
History shows that the early leaders of the Church---priests and even popes---were married and had children. Early on, marriage and physical lover were viewed as good. But as time passed and the Church moved further and further away from her Jewish roots, she began to view sex as something pagan and dirty.
The negative view of sex that has percolated during most of Christian history was never part of Jewish thought."
I won't go on, but trust me, Mark Gungor fleshes out his writing with hits and humor that bring to light the realities of how we have been duped in our thinking about the different aspects of marriage, AND how our Jewish roots shed much light on how things really should be done. I look forward to more fun evenings of laughing our way to a better marriage!
Thursday, February 07, 2013
The state of education
My hubby texted me yesterday afternoon telling me that three of his fourth graders had been suspended.
These are 10 year olds.
One was suspended for popping a classmate in the head.
Two were suspended for bullying.
Last week, another fourth grader was suspended....he's now been suspended twice since the 3rd of January.
Apparently, there are other students in this elementary school being suspended as well. It's about time. The school just got a new administrator who is not afraid to lower the boon on these kids and their unacceptable behavior which is keeping teachers from teaching and other students from learning.
As we were driving out to an appointment last night, I asked Paul if he had EVER been suspended from school. Neither one of us was....EVER. And here he is facing 10 year olds who NEED to be suspended...and the stories continue...first graders punching teachers in the eye, a second grader dislocating the shoulder of a teacher.
And then teachers are told that they need to be kind, loving and gentle with these kids, building their self-esteem. We are seeing the results of the "feel-good" approach to education.
As I told Paul last night, I lived in a good fear of my parents, the administration of the school and I respected my teachers too much to be disrespectful. It breaks my heart to hear stories like I get to hear now every day. I completely understand why more and more families are choosing homeschooling...I sure would!
These are 10 year olds.
One was suspended for popping a classmate in the head.
Two were suspended for bullying.
Last week, another fourth grader was suspended....he's now been suspended twice since the 3rd of January.
Apparently, there are other students in this elementary school being suspended as well. It's about time. The school just got a new administrator who is not afraid to lower the boon on these kids and their unacceptable behavior which is keeping teachers from teaching and other students from learning.
As we were driving out to an appointment last night, I asked Paul if he had EVER been suspended from school. Neither one of us was....EVER. And here he is facing 10 year olds who NEED to be suspended...and the stories continue...first graders punching teachers in the eye, a second grader dislocating the shoulder of a teacher.
And then teachers are told that they need to be kind, loving and gentle with these kids, building their self-esteem. We are seeing the results of the "feel-good" approach to education.
As I told Paul last night, I lived in a good fear of my parents, the administration of the school and I respected my teachers too much to be disrespectful. It breaks my heart to hear stories like I get to hear now every day. I completely understand why more and more families are choosing homeschooling...I sure would!
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
More reasons NOT to watch TV
I mostly work from home as a writing coach and editor, and I have two businesses online. Today, I decided that, while I ate my quick lunch, I would turn on the TV just to see if there was anything worth watching at 1 p.m. on a weekday.
I am further down the road now of beginning to understand why our nation is where it is spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. First I found the Ricki Lake (?) show, and as I munched on my chicken salad and crackers, I listened as a woman who had lost her husband to death sat with a medium who talks with the dead, engage in the witchcraft of speaking with the dead. One of the most disturbing things to me was watching the medium as she scribbled on her legal pad of paper these boxes and chaotic looking things and then she would "relay" what the dead husband was communicating to his wife. I could literally feel the demonic spirits being released into the atmosphere in that tv studio and over the airwaves. The thing that amazed me, but did not surprise me, is how hungry the widow was as well as the people in the audience to 'connect' with the spiritual realm. They don't even know that they are messing in the demonic realm because the enemy has so deceived people into thinking that whatever feels right or good is perfectly fine to engage in. There is ZERO understanding of the kingdom of darkness because we now live in an age when darkness is considered light and true light is considered to be darkness.
I supposed what was disturbing to me is that this kind of stuff used to be relegated to the side-show of a travelling circus and was engaged in in secret, but now it is wide-spread, accepted and even acceptable by the masses without question or concern about what is really BEHIND this medium's abilities. Her prophetic gifts are given by the Lord, but she is using them for the kingdom of darkness and under its influence and thus infecting and inflicting the talons of the enemy of our souls on myriads of people who lack the spiritual discernment and knowledge of the Truth.
Changing the channel, I hoped to find something a bit less overtly demonic and found the show "The Talk". There are about 6 women who sit around a table with coffee mugs and talk. I turned it on just in time to see them cutting to a David Letterman clip where he makes fun of Chris Christy and his obesity. As they returned to the "talk table", I was completely astonished to watch one of the women, clearly overweight, "jokingly" stuffing a donut into her mouth while everyone laughed and talked about how great it is that Mr. Christy is just fine with his obesity and how the most important thing is that someone be satisfied with themselves no matter what they look like or how large they are! My mouth nearly dropped when woman after woman agreed that if an individual is satisfied with him or herself being overweight, then it's good that they can make fun of themselves and just be satisfied with their bodies.
HELLO??? Do we have a health crisis in this nation with an obesity epidemic and health care costs going through the roof partly as a result of people not eating healthy foods, not exercising, not caring about their weight and therefore opening up their lives, bodies and our entire society to monumental health crisis issues???
As I watched, I saw a veil over each of these ladies eyes as the god of this age has blinded them to the destructiveness of our own personal choices to live unhealthy lives that are literally costing all of us millions in tax dollars, millions in lost income due to illnesses, and millions in lives lost due to premature deaths. The enemy surely is out to steal, kill and destroy, and blind the minds of unbelievers, and these ladies are living proof that this nation is in a crisis of unprecedented proportions!
We are so deceived. We have given in to the spirit of the age and justified ourselves under the lying veil of "tolerance", thus bringing upon ourselves, our children, our families and our communities sickness, deception, lies, disease, and eventually, death. And we want to call this way of thinking LIFE?
After just 10 minutes, I turned my TV off. Enough lies, filth, and worldly influence flowed out of that object today to last me a lifetime. What is sad to me is that there are thousands if not millions of people watching those shows and feeding on the refuse that is being propagated, slowly but surely playing right into the enemies' hands.
I realize this is one of the harshest and most negative blog entries I have ever written. Part of this is simply processing for me, especially after having been what I call 'slimed'. I do know this....I am not missing a thing by not watching these particular shows on TV...along with many others like them; in fact, my life is RICHER and HEALTHIER because I am choosing to meditate on those things which are true, good, wholesome, life-giving, and hopeful. I will continue to spend my time on that which gives THESE GOOD FRUITS rather than the rottenness so prevalent today.
God help us!
I am further down the road now of beginning to understand why our nation is where it is spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. First I found the Ricki Lake (?) show, and as I munched on my chicken salad and crackers, I listened as a woman who had lost her husband to death sat with a medium who talks with the dead, engage in the witchcraft of speaking with the dead. One of the most disturbing things to me was watching the medium as she scribbled on her legal pad of paper these boxes and chaotic looking things and then she would "relay" what the dead husband was communicating to his wife. I could literally feel the demonic spirits being released into the atmosphere in that tv studio and over the airwaves. The thing that amazed me, but did not surprise me, is how hungry the widow was as well as the people in the audience to 'connect' with the spiritual realm. They don't even know that they are messing in the demonic realm because the enemy has so deceived people into thinking that whatever feels right or good is perfectly fine to engage in. There is ZERO understanding of the kingdom of darkness because we now live in an age when darkness is considered light and true light is considered to be darkness.
I supposed what was disturbing to me is that this kind of stuff used to be relegated to the side-show of a travelling circus and was engaged in in secret, but now it is wide-spread, accepted and even acceptable by the masses without question or concern about what is really BEHIND this medium's abilities. Her prophetic gifts are given by the Lord, but she is using them for the kingdom of darkness and under its influence and thus infecting and inflicting the talons of the enemy of our souls on myriads of people who lack the spiritual discernment and knowledge of the Truth.
Changing the channel, I hoped to find something a bit less overtly demonic and found the show "The Talk". There are about 6 women who sit around a table with coffee mugs and talk. I turned it on just in time to see them cutting to a David Letterman clip where he makes fun of Chris Christy and his obesity. As they returned to the "talk table", I was completely astonished to watch one of the women, clearly overweight, "jokingly" stuffing a donut into her mouth while everyone laughed and talked about how great it is that Mr. Christy is just fine with his obesity and how the most important thing is that someone be satisfied with themselves no matter what they look like or how large they are! My mouth nearly dropped when woman after woman agreed that if an individual is satisfied with him or herself being overweight, then it's good that they can make fun of themselves and just be satisfied with their bodies.
HELLO??? Do we have a health crisis in this nation with an obesity epidemic and health care costs going through the roof partly as a result of people not eating healthy foods, not exercising, not caring about their weight and therefore opening up their lives, bodies and our entire society to monumental health crisis issues???
As I watched, I saw a veil over each of these ladies eyes as the god of this age has blinded them to the destructiveness of our own personal choices to live unhealthy lives that are literally costing all of us millions in tax dollars, millions in lost income due to illnesses, and millions in lives lost due to premature deaths. The enemy surely is out to steal, kill and destroy, and blind the minds of unbelievers, and these ladies are living proof that this nation is in a crisis of unprecedented proportions!
We are so deceived. We have given in to the spirit of the age and justified ourselves under the lying veil of "tolerance", thus bringing upon ourselves, our children, our families and our communities sickness, deception, lies, disease, and eventually, death. And we want to call this way of thinking LIFE?
After just 10 minutes, I turned my TV off. Enough lies, filth, and worldly influence flowed out of that object today to last me a lifetime. What is sad to me is that there are thousands if not millions of people watching those shows and feeding on the refuse that is being propagated, slowly but surely playing right into the enemies' hands.
I realize this is one of the harshest and most negative blog entries I have ever written. Part of this is simply processing for me, especially after having been what I call 'slimed'. I do know this....I am not missing a thing by not watching these particular shows on TV...along with many others like them; in fact, my life is RICHER and HEALTHIER because I am choosing to meditate on those things which are true, good, wholesome, life-giving, and hopeful. I will continue to spend my time on that which gives THESE GOOD FRUITS rather than the rottenness so prevalent today.
God help us!
Monday, January 28, 2013
A surrendered life
As we rise up into the joy of this day, the reality of a life surrendered to the Father is possible. What we gain when we surrender is amazing grace, love, hope, joy and NEW LIFE in abundance. Let the old be burned away so the new and true can reign!
Francis Frangipane captures my heart for today so well:
"Like prospectors of old, you must stake your claim high in the kingdom of God, being ready to defend your rights to the “pure gold” of Heaven (Rev 3:18). And as you pitch your tent at the throne of grace, something eternal will begin to glow in you, like hot coals on a furnace floor. As you persist in faith, the sacred fire of God's presence will consume the wood, hay and stubble of your former ways. Power such as Jesus had will reside in your inner being. Angels will stand in awe, for your gold will be refined, your garments light, and your life holy. -- Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God."
Francis Frangipane captures my heart for today so well:
"Like prospectors of old, you must stake your claim high in the kingdom of God, being ready to defend your rights to the “pure gold” of Heaven (Rev 3:18). And as you pitch your tent at the throne of grace, something eternal will begin to glow in you, like hot coals on a furnace floor. As you persist in faith, the sacred fire of God's presence will consume the wood, hay and stubble of your former ways. Power such as Jesus had will reside in your inner being. Angels will stand in awe, for your gold will be refined, your garments light, and your life holy. -- Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God."
Monday, January 21, 2013
Writing
I used to write a lot. Daily, in fact. I kept a journal, I 'journaled' here on this blog, pondered life, and gave my not-so-biased views on many things. What's happened to keep me from writing so frequently?
Life.
Nice excuse. But real nonetheless. There is a reality to living in the good-ole-U.S. of A. that I didn't experience when I was living in Hungary. In Hungary, even though life took LONGER to live each day, life in the U.S. is just busy because it seems to take MORE effort just to make ends meet. At the end of the day, when all the papers are graded, the connections made with customers, and the bills are paid, I crawl into bed, spent, often exhausted, my mind filled with unmet desires as I look at the stack of unread books on my bedside table.
How did I get away from the topic of writing so quickly and into the mode of complaining? Forgive me. Back to writing. I found great solace in putting pen to paper or plunking out profound thoughts on my blog. There is something very therapeutic about processing on paper, as the saying goes.
However, now, writing seems to be daunting for me; there are simply not enough hours in a day to do the kind of justice writing deserves. Plus, these days I am spending many hours per day reading other people's writing, and so come close of day, I simply want to turn my computer off and not write or read another word.
Now I understand why I quit giving my students in Hungary papers to write ha ha ha!
Call it mid-life crisis or whatever you will, but I'm definitely finding great joy in trying my hand at different things other than teaching school. However, I digress yet again.
Back to writing. I want to write...I really do. I have a couple of books churning inside of me, but finding the time to write while having the ability to pay bills is the dilemma I find myself in these days. I'm praying for the day when I can spend hours on my laptop doing my own writing, revising and editing of my own pieces.
We'll see.....til then...enjoy my musings, convoluted as they may be.
Life.
Nice excuse. But real nonetheless. There is a reality to living in the good-ole-U.S. of A. that I didn't experience when I was living in Hungary. In Hungary, even though life took LONGER to live each day, life in the U.S. is just busy because it seems to take MORE effort just to make ends meet. At the end of the day, when all the papers are graded, the connections made with customers, and the bills are paid, I crawl into bed, spent, often exhausted, my mind filled with unmet desires as I look at the stack of unread books on my bedside table.
How did I get away from the topic of writing so quickly and into the mode of complaining? Forgive me. Back to writing. I found great solace in putting pen to paper or plunking out profound thoughts on my blog. There is something very therapeutic about processing on paper, as the saying goes.
However, now, writing seems to be daunting for me; there are simply not enough hours in a day to do the kind of justice writing deserves. Plus, these days I am spending many hours per day reading other people's writing, and so come close of day, I simply want to turn my computer off and not write or read another word.
Now I understand why I quit giving my students in Hungary papers to write ha ha ha!
Call it mid-life crisis or whatever you will, but I'm definitely finding great joy in trying my hand at different things other than teaching school. However, I digress yet again.
Back to writing. I want to write...I really do. I have a couple of books churning inside of me, but finding the time to write while having the ability to pay bills is the dilemma I find myself in these days. I'm praying for the day when I can spend hours on my laptop doing my own writing, revising and editing of my own pieces.
We'll see.....til then...enjoy my musings, convoluted as they may be.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Do you need an extra $1000?
If you have received your January paycheck, you have probably seen that the tax increase did not just affect the richest of rich, but also the average person.
How about needing to lose weight? Could you stand to lose an extra 10 pounds?
I have a challenge for you: Lose 10 pounds in a week and be in the running for $1000.
It gets better...how about earning an extra $1000 every month? I would love to help people get fit, lose weight and earn extra money.
Go to THIS LINK and get the whole scoop!
How about needing to lose weight? Could you stand to lose an extra 10 pounds?
I have a challenge for you: Lose 10 pounds in a week and be in the running for $1000.
It gets better...how about earning an extra $1000 every month? I would love to help people get fit, lose weight and earn extra money.
Go to THIS LINK and get the whole scoop!
Monday, January 07, 2013
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Resolutions vs. Transformations
This is the time of year when gyms are full, health food aisles in stores are running low on items, and fast-food restaurants are searching for ways to draw in customers. Many people have made resolutions, seeking to change long-time habit patterns. Some succeed, but most do not.
How about focusing on something different? What if people decided to make new year's TRANSFORMATIONS instead? Transformations take time, discipline and diligence, but the end result is an entirely new 'being', rather than a spruced up one. Transformations mean commitment, and I believe they must begin from the inside out, rather than the outside in. There is a decision that must be made, every morning, every minute, every hour, every meal, every day. The beginning of a transformation must be charted, recorded, and then the steps to reach transformation must be taken, one at a time, one decision at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. It's an ongoing process rather than a one time declaration.
The key, in my opinion, to transformation is this: for whom are you transforming your life? The answer must be outside of yourself...is it for your spouse? Your neighborhood? Your children or grandchildren? Your colleagues at work? Your friends? You see, transformation is about making those choices that will transform your life and the lives of those around you. Resolutions are inherently self-focused and therefore fail because we were not created to satisfy ourselves but to be in relationship with others.
When we commit to transformations in our lives, the impact is far-reaching because it's not primarily about us, but rather about the world around us.
So, care to join me on a journey of transformation in 2013?
How about focusing on something different? What if people decided to make new year's TRANSFORMATIONS instead? Transformations take time, discipline and diligence, but the end result is an entirely new 'being', rather than a spruced up one. Transformations mean commitment, and I believe they must begin from the inside out, rather than the outside in. There is a decision that must be made, every morning, every minute, every hour, every meal, every day. The beginning of a transformation must be charted, recorded, and then the steps to reach transformation must be taken, one at a time, one decision at a time, one hour at a time, one day at a time. It's an ongoing process rather than a one time declaration.
The key, in my opinion, to transformation is this: for whom are you transforming your life? The answer must be outside of yourself...is it for your spouse? Your neighborhood? Your children or grandchildren? Your colleagues at work? Your friends? You see, transformation is about making those choices that will transform your life and the lives of those around you. Resolutions are inherently self-focused and therefore fail because we were not created to satisfy ourselves but to be in relationship with others.
When we commit to transformations in our lives, the impact is far-reaching because it's not primarily about us, but rather about the world around us.
So, care to join me on a journey of transformation in 2013?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Closing out 2012
Recently, we were encouraged to pull out prophetic words spoken over us in the past and read over them again. This exercise was both challenging and encouraging, because it's exciting to see how God has moved and know that He will move in our lives in the coming year. He truly is the God of Hope who will triumph in our lives!
Closing out this year, I am thankful for so many things, but right at this moment, for my sweet husband, Paul. As we complete 20 months of marriage, I know that I am a better person because of him and his undying love for Jesus and for me. I bless you, Paul, and look forward with great anticipation to all God has for us in 2013!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
New Year Thoughts
We are approaching the start of a new year on the Roman Calendar. Instead of making resolutions, I want to post something different:
My New Year's Expectations
1. I expect to see God change me so that He is increasingly glorified in my life.
2. I expect to see God move mightily in my friends' lives across the planet.
3. I expect to see Holy Spirit increase in pouring out His gifts in my life that the Kingdom of God moves forward with power.
4. I expect to see Holy Spirit move in ways we've never seen Him move in the western world as we humble ourselves and pray.
5. I expect to see God build my marriage so that we as a cord of three strands will be strong!
What are some of your expectations?
Monday, December 17, 2012
Tragedy
No one is ever ready for what happened last Friday in CT. You cannot prepare for something like that, and when it happens, everyone is left with many unanswered questions and life-long grief at levels unimaginable.
I nearly throw up every time I close my eyes and picture the faces of those little victims as they watched their friends die, one by one. The confusion, the fear, the shock, the pain, the horror. My heart grieves for the families as they start on this journey of living life without these little ones who brought nothing but joy to their lives.
We have a serious problem in this nation, and it is multi-faceted. Many people would like to narrow it down to one issue, but it is not a 'one-issue' problem. It is a multi-layered problem with one issue at the very core, which many do not want to address. At the risk of neglecting the many layers, I want to go to the core, which is the heart issue.
Our problem is our hearts. Our hearts have gone astray from that which is true and truth, that which is right, noble, and real. We've allowed everything and everyone to distract us from the One who created every heart on this planet. Some will take offense to what I am saying, but let me give you an example.
Let's say you choose to change your diet and eat nothing but donuts, cakes, soda pop, cookies, ice cream and other sweet things. It will not be long before you are sick and your body begins to go into shock. Then the ensuing illnesses emerge, and you scream because you are not receiving the proper "care" for your illness and you wonder why all these things are happening to you. You forsook good nutrition and chose to fill your body with junk. Junk in = junk out.
In a similar way, we have chosen to go a certain course...for many, that path is away from the creator of the universe, the creator of mankind, and we have chosen to believe other things, follow other values and feed our hearts, minds and spirits on things that are contrary to what we were originally intended to feed upon. For some it has been a slow process, a slippery slope...for others, it's been an outright abandonment and rebellion against a God they really don't understand, because if they did, they would realize that He's all about love according to His Kingdom. Slow or fast, the results are sickness...illness....and then when horrific, uncalled for tragedies take place like this past Friday, we wonder why and begin to complain about this or that without dealing with the heart issue.
The only things I know about the young man who committed these heinous acts of violence against innocent victims are that he was odd, an introvert, very smart, and that his mom refused to talk about family. I haven't read anywhere that he had a living relationship with the living God. If he had, maybe, just maybe, he would not have committed this crime and 28 people would still be alive today.
But they aren't...and that is the tragedy. We have to ask the hard questions, the CORE questions, rather than dance around the periphery, thinking that if we peel off the outside layer of the onion, the rotten core won't really matter. God, grant us strength to go to the core.
I nearly throw up every time I close my eyes and picture the faces of those little victims as they watched their friends die, one by one. The confusion, the fear, the shock, the pain, the horror. My heart grieves for the families as they start on this journey of living life without these little ones who brought nothing but joy to their lives.
We have a serious problem in this nation, and it is multi-faceted. Many people would like to narrow it down to one issue, but it is not a 'one-issue' problem. It is a multi-layered problem with one issue at the very core, which many do not want to address. At the risk of neglecting the many layers, I want to go to the core, which is the heart issue.
Our problem is our hearts. Our hearts have gone astray from that which is true and truth, that which is right, noble, and real. We've allowed everything and everyone to distract us from the One who created every heart on this planet. Some will take offense to what I am saying, but let me give you an example.
Let's say you choose to change your diet and eat nothing but donuts, cakes, soda pop, cookies, ice cream and other sweet things. It will not be long before you are sick and your body begins to go into shock. Then the ensuing illnesses emerge, and you scream because you are not receiving the proper "care" for your illness and you wonder why all these things are happening to you. You forsook good nutrition and chose to fill your body with junk. Junk in = junk out.
In a similar way, we have chosen to go a certain course...for many, that path is away from the creator of the universe, the creator of mankind, and we have chosen to believe other things, follow other values and feed our hearts, minds and spirits on things that are contrary to what we were originally intended to feed upon. For some it has been a slow process, a slippery slope...for others, it's been an outright abandonment and rebellion against a God they really don't understand, because if they did, they would realize that He's all about love according to His Kingdom. Slow or fast, the results are sickness...illness....and then when horrific, uncalled for tragedies take place like this past Friday, we wonder why and begin to complain about this or that without dealing with the heart issue.
The only things I know about the young man who committed these heinous acts of violence against innocent victims are that he was odd, an introvert, very smart, and that his mom refused to talk about family. I haven't read anywhere that he had a living relationship with the living God. If he had, maybe, just maybe, he would not have committed this crime and 28 people would still be alive today.
But they aren't...and that is the tragedy. We have to ask the hard questions, the CORE questions, rather than dance around the periphery, thinking that if we peel off the outside layer of the onion, the rotten core won't really matter. God, grant us strength to go to the core.
Monday, December 03, 2012
My journey to increased health
Some of my blog readers know that my husband, Paul, and I began a journey last August with the #1 weight-loss and fitness program in the nation: VISALUS.
We are LOVING the journey to health and fitness, feeling stronger, better and more alert every day. It's so simple, it's almost nuts....a breakfast shake in the morning (or the shake mix in oatmeal as Paul loves it, or pancakes like we both love it), healthy snack mid-morning, lunch shake, healthy snacks in the afternoon, and a normal dinner in the evening. Or sometimes we switch it up: breakfast shake, healthy snack, big lunch, healthy snacks and then a shake for dinner. Some of our friends are doing just one shake a day for breakfast and seeing some amazing transformations!
I decided to post my progress in pictures here. Our goal has not been weight-loss, but rather, for Paul, weight-gain in the form of muscle, and for me, losing skinny fat and putting on more lean muscle. So, since the beginning of August, I have actually put on 3% of lean muscle, lost 3% of body fat, and my body age is 30! So, here are the visual results:
We are LOVING the journey to health and fitness, feeling stronger, better and more alert every day. It's so simple, it's almost nuts....a breakfast shake in the morning (or the shake mix in oatmeal as Paul loves it, or pancakes like we both love it), healthy snack mid-morning, lunch shake, healthy snacks in the afternoon, and a normal dinner in the evening. Or sometimes we switch it up: breakfast shake, healthy snack, big lunch, healthy snacks and then a shake for dinner. Some of our friends are doing just one shake a day for breakfast and seeing some amazing transformations!
I decided to post my progress in pictures here. Our goal has not been weight-loss, but rather, for Paul, weight-gain in the form of muscle, and for me, losing skinny fat and putting on more lean muscle. So, since the beginning of August, I have actually put on 3% of lean muscle, lost 3% of body fat, and my body age is 30! So, here are the visual results:
This was me at the beginning of August, 2012
Nice belly pooch, huh?
This is me today, December 3, 2012, leaner, meaner and feeling great!
I'm loving my new belly!
Feeling great!
Of course we'be been doing exercise as well, like sit-ups, crunches, push-ups, walking, pull-ups, and the elliptical machine at the gym, in addition to some Kettle Worx workouts. It's about changing one's lifestyle for the better! If you'd like to join me/us on our new life-time journey of health, CLICK HERE AND JOIN THE 90-DAY CHALLENGE!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
These are two of the most amazing shelving units you could ever want in your home!
Many of you know I am a consultant with Shelf Reliance. They are having an AMAZING sale RIGHT NOW on this rotation shelving unit. It's called the Harvest 72" #10. Here are the specs:
Dimensions Capacity Up to 112 gallon-sized cansDepth 24.5"
Width 36.5"
Why am I putting this on my blog? Because this is an incredible, cost efficient and excellent way to store your large coffee-can size cans of food which is at a GREAT price right now. It's $229.00 marked down from $459.00! You have to get it through me, so leave a comment or e-mail me and I can get your order in.
Now the shelving unit below is even more exciting because it holds the large cans, then medium sized cans and small cans. Here are the specs for this one:
Dimensions Capacity Up to 460 cans
Height 72"
Depth 24.5"
Width 36.5"
Height 72"
Depth 24.5"
Width 36.5"
This shelving unit is priced at $263.19 through my website, which you can access: HERE This one you can order yourself online.
Both of these shelving units are wonderful because they totally organize your canned goods and rotate them so the oldest comes out first!
I'm putting this on my personal blog because if 3 more people buy one of these shelving units each, then I move "up" in the rankings...but that's not the most important reason. The most important reason is that I long to see people prepared, and this is a wonderful way to start preparing.
Questions? Contact me!
Praying for my adopted country, Hungary
This news is worthy of your reading:
HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS CALLS FOR LIST OF JEWS: A Hungarian far-right deputy's suggestion to compile a list of residents "of Jewish origin" sparked an outcry on Tuesday in Hungary, which has seen a series of antisemitic incidents in recent months. "The Hungarian government condemns in the strongest possible terms remarks made by far-right party Jobbik's Marton Gyongyosi in parliament," the government said in a statement. "The government is opposed to all forms or expressions of extremism, racist or antisemitic, and does everything in its power to combat it." On Monday, Gyongyosi suggested drawing up a list of those who might pose a "security risk" for Hungary, citing Israel's recent conflict with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. (INN) Pray this blatantly antisemitic suggestion, calling for a list of residents “of Jewish origin” in Hungary, will not rear its ugly head again. Such proposals are frightfully reminiscent of the Nazi era.
HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS CALLS FOR LIST OF JEWS: A Hungarian far-right deputy's suggestion to compile a list of residents "of Jewish origin" sparked an outcry on Tuesday in Hungary, which has seen a series of antisemitic incidents in recent months. "The Hungarian government condemns in the strongest possible terms remarks made by far-right party Jobbik's Marton Gyongyosi in parliament," the government said in a statement. "The government is opposed to all forms or expressions of extremism, racist or antisemitic, and does everything in its power to combat it." On Monday, Gyongyosi suggested drawing up a list of those who might pose a "security risk" for Hungary, citing Israel's recent conflict with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. (INN) Pray this blatantly antisemitic suggestion, calling for a list of residents “of Jewish origin” in Hungary, will not rear its ugly head again. Such proposals are frightfully reminiscent of the Nazi era.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Busy. Understatement of the year. It's a season, or so I keep telling myself. While I love all that is happening...or most of it...I am still finding it very challenging to fit everything I need to accomplish into a 24-hour day.
The blessings of this fall include:
Paul getting a teaching job....4th grade....VERY challenging children, though, which is wearying on him.
Us growing with our new spiritual family, The Bridge. We continue to see God do amazing things, changing people's lives and perspectives.
Business travels for both of us...we continue to hope the follow up with those contacts produces much fruit!
Visits to family; Paul's family for Thanksgiving.
What our hopes are for the next month:
Depth of relationship with Papa God, that we might come into line with His calendar, His ways, His heart for people, His perspectives on everything and everyone in every situation.
That just about sums it up!
The blessings of this fall include:
Paul getting a teaching job....4th grade....VERY challenging children, though, which is wearying on him.
Us growing with our new spiritual family, The Bridge. We continue to see God do amazing things, changing people's lives and perspectives.
Business travels for both of us...we continue to hope the follow up with those contacts produces much fruit!
Visits to family; Paul's family for Thanksgiving.
What our hopes are for the next month:
Depth of relationship with Papa God, that we might come into line with His calendar, His ways, His heart for people, His perspectives on everything and everyone in every situation.
That just about sums it up!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Fun in Arizona!
I spent 5 days in Arizona, two of which were working an expo in Mesa. Fun times with fun people.
But the best time was spent with my parents. As they grow older, I covet these visits more and more; sadly, these visits are rare. Sometimes I think our country is just too big.
We laughed a lot, talked a lot, and just simply enjoyed being together. We didn't have to have a lot of activity going on...just being together is priceless to me.
As I was grading papers on their back patio early Monday morning, I looked up to see two coyotes jogging across the fairway. I got up to take a picture, but they are so skittish that they both dashed off into the neighbors backyard. Fun to see wildlife in the middle of the city.
Back home now, I am pretty swamped with work...but blessed to have work! Thank you Jesus for your goodness to me!
But the best time was spent with my parents. As they grow older, I covet these visits more and more; sadly, these visits are rare. Sometimes I think our country is just too big.
We laughed a lot, talked a lot, and just simply enjoyed being together. We didn't have to have a lot of activity going on...just being together is priceless to me.
As I was grading papers on their back patio early Monday morning, I looked up to see two coyotes jogging across the fairway. I got up to take a picture, but they are so skittish that they both dashed off into the neighbors backyard. Fun to see wildlife in the middle of the city.
Back home now, I am pretty swamped with work...but blessed to have work! Thank you Jesus for your goodness to me!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
So much has happened!!!
My humble apologies to blog readers out there as I have been negligent, so for the two of you who follow me with any regularity, here is the latest from the Czaszewicz household!
Paul is now gainfully employed, praise the LORD! He is teaching 4th grade at an elementary school just 10 minutes from our home! Challenges abound as he was hired just 2 weeks ago, so the students were already in a routine and are now having to change everything. Both of us are pulling late nights and early mornings to get things up and running in the classroom, especially with this being his first "official" year of teaching in his own classroom! Please keep him in your prayers as he ushers in the presence of the KING OF KINGS through just BEING in that classroom with his 18 precious students.
I am ever-building my business with Shelf Reliance, and I'm amazed at how God continues to breathe on it in His ways. From the get-go, I have asked the Lord to build it His way, and have tried to walk in obedience to what He is saying, which is mostly, "Be still and know that I am God." That's hard for me as a "lioness", but I am learning and seeing His faithfulness. He's bringing people from near and far, friends and random folks who googled freeze-dried foods and my name came up. Most importantly, He is teaching me that business is about people and relationships, and if the business thrives too, well that's just a bonus. I love market-place ministry!
Thus far, I've not given up my day job at Write at Home, and I have almost 40 students this year, which means 40 papers a week to grade online. I LOVE IT! What a privilege it is to be able to pour into young people's lives all across the country (and maybe even the globe because I don't even know where my students live!) through their writing and to encourage them. I'm so blessed!
Paul and I have jumped on board a 90-day challenge as well with Visalus. You really need to check out these breakfast shakes! Our first 90 day challenge will end the second week in November and our goal was to lose our bellies that we put on during our first year of marriage. So we've actually been trying to do two protein shakes a day and then one good meal, and it seems to be working! Maybe I will post before and after pictures here. :-) Check it out HERE! We haven't yet decided what our next 90-day challenge will be, but we are so pleased with the Body By Vi shakes that we are setting some pretty rigorous goals...maybe a 40 day wilderness adventure next summer?!
In addition, I am doing a bit of editing for an amazing ministry called Exodus Cry. EC is a prayer ministry which fights human trafficking. Check out their website here.
Most importantly, Paul and I are integrally connected to a wonderful spiritual family here in Kansas City called The Bridge Ministries, International. This is a network of house churches, and we are currently a part of what is called a Training House Church each week. Those of us there are learning how, by doing, to "do" house church, and it is wonderful! The truths of the Scriptures regarding everyone coming prepared with a Psalm, a song, a word of encouragement or a teaching is playing out every week, and people are being healed, delivered, encouraged, empowered, and God is receiving the glory!
In sum, LEARNING and GROWING would be the operative words in this season. The Lord is really stretching both me and Paul and many around us as He shows us what He is doing and how He is preparing His bride for what is coming to the earth. Our only hope is Jesus...and we rejoice and rest in that fact, as He is the best ROCK upon which to build everything!
Paul is now gainfully employed, praise the LORD! He is teaching 4th grade at an elementary school just 10 minutes from our home! Challenges abound as he was hired just 2 weeks ago, so the students were already in a routine and are now having to change everything. Both of us are pulling late nights and early mornings to get things up and running in the classroom, especially with this being his first "official" year of teaching in his own classroom! Please keep him in your prayers as he ushers in the presence of the KING OF KINGS through just BEING in that classroom with his 18 precious students.
I am ever-building my business with Shelf Reliance, and I'm amazed at how God continues to breathe on it in His ways. From the get-go, I have asked the Lord to build it His way, and have tried to walk in obedience to what He is saying, which is mostly, "Be still and know that I am God." That's hard for me as a "lioness", but I am learning and seeing His faithfulness. He's bringing people from near and far, friends and random folks who googled freeze-dried foods and my name came up. Most importantly, He is teaching me that business is about people and relationships, and if the business thrives too, well that's just a bonus. I love market-place ministry!
Thus far, I've not given up my day job at Write at Home, and I have almost 40 students this year, which means 40 papers a week to grade online. I LOVE IT! What a privilege it is to be able to pour into young people's lives all across the country (and maybe even the globe because I don't even know where my students live!) through their writing and to encourage them. I'm so blessed!
Paul and I have jumped on board a 90-day challenge as well with Visalus. You really need to check out these breakfast shakes! Our first 90 day challenge will end the second week in November and our goal was to lose our bellies that we put on during our first year of marriage. So we've actually been trying to do two protein shakes a day and then one good meal, and it seems to be working! Maybe I will post before and after pictures here. :-) Check it out HERE! We haven't yet decided what our next 90-day challenge will be, but we are so pleased with the Body By Vi shakes that we are setting some pretty rigorous goals...maybe a 40 day wilderness adventure next summer?!
In addition, I am doing a bit of editing for an amazing ministry called Exodus Cry. EC is a prayer ministry which fights human trafficking. Check out their website here.
Most importantly, Paul and I are integrally connected to a wonderful spiritual family here in Kansas City called The Bridge Ministries, International. This is a network of house churches, and we are currently a part of what is called a Training House Church each week. Those of us there are learning how, by doing, to "do" house church, and it is wonderful! The truths of the Scriptures regarding everyone coming prepared with a Psalm, a song, a word of encouragement or a teaching is playing out every week, and people are being healed, delivered, encouraged, empowered, and God is receiving the glory!
In sum, LEARNING and GROWING would be the operative words in this season. The Lord is really stretching both me and Paul and many around us as He shows us what He is doing and how He is preparing His bride for what is coming to the earth. Our only hope is Jesus...and we rejoice and rest in that fact, as He is the best ROCK upon which to build everything!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Great video about why I'm doing Visalus
Paul and I have started drinking Visalus shakes in the morning for breakfast. WE LOVE THEM! We are exercising regularly, eating better, and have tons more energy than we have had in years!
We're doing what's called a 90-day challenge, and if you want to join us, click on the link at the bottom of this blog! In the meantime, here is a video to let you know more!
Good Video!
Join me and Paul on a 90-day challenge, and get three friends to join you and your next month's shakes are FREE! :-)
MY WEBSITE
We're doing what's called a 90-day challenge, and if you want to join us, click on the link at the bottom of this blog! In the meantime, here is a video to let you know more!
Good Video!
Join me and Paul on a 90-day challenge, and get three friends to join you and your next month's shakes are FREE! :-)
MY WEBSITE
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